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03/22/2008 Archived Entry: "Rafael Ortiz Funeral"
Rafael Ortiz Funeral
Funeral services for Jr. welterweight Rafael Ortiz will be held on Monday, March 24 starting at 11 a.m. at St. Edwards Catholic Church, 100 South Main St. in Lebanon, OR.
Over his seven-year professional boxing career, Ortiz fought up and down the West coast and journeyed to Chicago and New Jersey for bouts as well. He had a perfectly balanced record of 14 wins with 13 KOs, 14 losses with 4 KOs, and two draws.
His last fight took place on March 8 at the Silver Reef Casino in Ferndale, WA. In that bout he lost his Washington State Light Welterweight title to Michael Lucero of Portland, OR by TKO in the 6th round.
Ortiz and Lucero fought once before in November of 2007, when Lucero won a second round TKO over Ortiz at the Seven Feathers Casino in Canyonville, OR.
Ortiz won the title on June 9, 2007 with a TKO over Santos Pakau (24-4-1) at the Silver Reef Casino.
Ortiz was born on March 12, 1978 in Mexico and died on March 19, 2008 in a hospital in Portland, OR. The cause of death was reportedly a heart condition brought on by influenza. He is survived by his wife and two children.
(Please see excellent photos and announcement by Ricardo Ibarra, posted earlier on this page.)
--Katherine Dunn
