Luis Ortiz beats Malik Scott on points for heavyweight belt

Luis Ortiz beats Malik Scott on points for heavyweight belt

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 8:46 p.m. ET

MONACO (AP) Cuban boxer Luis Ortiz easily beat Malik Scott for the vacant WBA intercontinental heavyweight title on Saturday.

Making his European debut, Ortiz floored the listless Scott several times and won by a unanimous decision: 120-105, 120-106, and 119-106 on the judges' cards.

He improved his unbeaten record to 26-0 with two no contests, and consigned Scott to a third defeat in 42 bouts, with one drawn.

Scott's other two losses were against fellow American Deontay Wilder and Britain's Dereck Chisora, and he created little pressure in this fight.

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The 37-year-old Ortiz has signed with promoter Eddie Hearn, meaning he could fight IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, although he will need to up his game if he does.

Scott once held a 35-0 record, and his quick feet, craft, and elusiveness were a credit to his boxing pedigree. But he hardly threw a punch, and was knocked down twice in the fourth round, once in the fifth, and once in the ninth.

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