Luis Ortiz has already made two appearances in the Team Boxing League and the one-round format seems to be perfect for his aging body at 47 years elderly.

The former two-time heavyweight title challenger returned to action for the Miami Assassins at the War Memorial Auditorium in Fort Lauderdale, helping his team remain undefeated following a 24-6 victory over Recent York.

However, the biggest debate wasn’t the victory itself, but the moment Ortiz hit the canvas.

Luis Ortiz was eliminated in TBL

Edward Millard entered the competition with a professional record of 2-0 and a similar record of 2-0 in TBL. The Recent Yorker proved exactly why anything is possible in a growing format, releasing Ortiz at a moment few expected.

By comparison, Deontay Wilder needed five rounds to knock down Ortiz for the first time in his original heavyweight title fight. Millard managed to achieve this with just three minutes at his disposal.

Ortiz looked visibly irritated by what happened.

The Cuban veteran immediately increased the intensity of the fight and reacted as many expected from a fighter of his pedigree. It was then reminded that even at the age of 47, Ortiz still possesses the strength that once made him one of the most feared heavyweights in boxing.

“King Kong” crushed Millard and helped Miami continue its balmy streak since he joined the team.

Ortiz has now stopped two opponents in TBL, both fighters who would normally never get a chance to fight in the ring with a former world title challenger in time-honored boxing structures.

Team Boxing League Format

Millard may have failed in the end, but he also showed why this format works.

The heavyweight with only two career wins knocked Luis Ortiz to the floor and briefly threatened one of the biggest names competing in the league.

Team Boxing League continues to prove that there is room for both.

Ortiz wasn’t the only veteran who turned back the years.

Former cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunninghamwho turns 50 himself next month, stopped Miguel Teo as the Philly Smoke defeated Boston 14-11.

Established names continue to gain a platform to compete, while younger and less experienced fighters are given opportunities they likely wouldn’t receive elsewhere.

Millard proved that anything can happen in one round. Ortiz proved what can happen when you make him enraged.

All videos and full results are available on the Team Boxing League YouTube channel.

About the author

Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.

Mosley was asked where Keyshawn fits into the situation and gave his take on how this fight would go.

Mosley pointed to Garcia’s upset win over Haney as the type of performance Keyshawn should try to repeat.

“I think Keyshawn would take the Ryan Garcia method and jump on him. Dev will try him out for the first two or three rounds, but when that doesn’t work, he’ll get on his bike and be gone,” Mosley told MillCity Boxing.

“He’s got to make sure he’s ready because if he’s not like he was when he started, you know, you’ve got to go with Devin because Devin, you know, he’s going to be ready,” Mosley said.

The father of the former three-division world champion also suggested that Haney and his father, Bill Haney, have developed a reputation for gaining the upper hand before a fight even starts.

“They’re really good at talking and having fun with the guy. That’s the fight before the fight,” Mosley said. “This mental war. It’s definitely working.”

Keyshawn, who is currently ranked No. 1 in the WBO welterweight division, has repeatedly called for a fight with Haney since he became the mandatory challenger. Meanwhile, Haney continued to say he wanted to face Shakur next.

The WBO ordered Haney to fight Keyshawn, while Haney also publicly discussed fighting Stevenson. The decision in which direction it will go may determine the immediate future of the division.

Hamzah Sheeraz won the WBO super middleweight title last month and the undefeated star wants a quick turnaround, with another 168-pounder stating he would be ready for the opportunity to fight the Briton at tiny notice.

Anthony Joshua will return to action next month when he faces Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25, hoping to make his long-awaited showdown with arch-rival Tyson Fury.

Earlier this week Boxing Scene reported that two world titles could be up for grabs on the undercard, with both Josh Kelly and Sheeraz set to make their first defense of their world titles in the super welterweight and super middleweight divisions, respectively.

Although Kelly is reportedly scheduled to face Caoimhin Agyarko from Belfast, Sheeraz’s opponent is unknown and the only condition is a place in the top fifteen of the WBO rankings.

In an interview with Boxing News, 39-year-old Milorad Zizic, who is rated No. 9 by the WBO, shared his desire to challenge for Sheeraz’s crown in a fight where he could join Dejan Zlatičanin as the second Montenegrin world champion in boxing history.

“It would mean a lot to me. I live for this goal. It would be a great honor for me, my family, Montenegro and the entire Balkan region. Becoming only the second world champion in Montenegro’s history would be something truly special.”

“It would mean everything to me. I live for boxing. I truly believe this fight could become the upset of the decade.”

Zizić, once called the hardest punch Floyd Mayweather Sr. had ever seenand then shared his confidence in the proposed competition, in which he hopes to continue his streak of six consecutive fights that lasted no longer than two rounds.

“Hamzah Sheeraz is a true champion. He is in great shape and I have a lot of respect for him. But believe me, he has never faced such a devastating blow as I did. Believe me, he will never face such a devastating blow as I did. I respect him as a fighter, but not to the point of thinking that I cannot beat him. I believe in my abilities and I am sure that I can make my dream come true.

“It will be a war from the first bell, I know how it can be. If we fight and he survives five rounds, he will be the winner, but five rounds against me is a long time.

“If Hamzah and his team want this fight, I’m ready. If not, that’s fine too. I will keep moving forward, keep working and stay focused on my journey. My time will come.”

Although his head coach is Joco Todorovic, Zizic has previously been cornered by fan favorite four-division world champion Roy Jones Jr, who continues to train him.

Speaking to Boxing News, Jones explained why he thinks Zizic will be an compelling test for Sheeraz, agreeing with Zizic’s plan to force a shootout.

“Zizic is a very strenuous puncher, as is Sheeraz, they are both very strenuous punchers. Zizic was off for a minute, but he came back and got four quick wins, he’s back busy and I think it would be a great fight for Sheeraz.”

“Like I said, they’re both really good punchers, and Sheeraz won’t come across many people who can match his punching power, but Zizic has that punching power.”

“He has to go straight to him. He can’t try to box him, he’ll go straight to him. That would probably be the smartest approach because if you box him, as long as he [Sheeraz] means he will beat you.

“So your best chance is to get to him as rapid as you can and see if he can withstand your blows. If you wait, he’ll get you out of there.”

News on Sheeraz’s opponent – if he appears on the card – is expected soon, with fellow WBO-ranked contenders Bernardin Jakaj (No. 12) and Jack Bowen (No. 14) also among potential opponents.