Marcos Maidana knocked out Victor Ortiz early in the sixth round Monday night in for 8,000 fans Los Angeles in an upset to one of boxing’s top contenders.
Maidan (26-1, 25 KOs), a 25-year-old 140-pound Argentine, was knocked down three times in the opening two rounds before knocking Ortiz out a few rounds later.
“I went down, but I got up because I have a big heart,” Maidana said. “I saw that Victor felt my punches, and I said, ‘I know I can win this.’ ”
Ortiz (24-2-1), tapped as one of the most talented young boxing prospects, lost in a call by doctors to stop the fight.
“I don’t know what happened,” Ortiz said. “I wasn’t in the zone tonight. He packs some power behind those punches. I usually keep composed, and tonight I wasn’t. . . . I made some mistakes. I wanted to take my time and finish him, but I was hurt.”
