*** FLASHBACK *** This article originally was published August 10, 2014 (ten years ago) on www.dmboxing.com regarding my very good friend Johnny Ortiz … I miss him, his memory was amazing and with our friendship going beyond boxing in respect with kindness for each other.
By David Martinez / dmboxing.com
Where do I start to talk and grieve about my friend – my good friend – Johnny Ortiz, who passed away on Saturday, August 9, 2014.
I met Johnny back in 1997 upon my arrival into the World Boxing Hall of Fame as a Director of the Board. I knew about Johnny prior to that because I would catch him at times when I was in the Los Angeles area and listened to his boxing radio talk show “Ringside with Johnny Ortiz”.
Upon meeting Johnny, we immediately bonded as loyal friends mainly due to our great love for boxing. I always considered Johnny a mentor and our bond took us to connecting by phone at least twice a week over the years just to check up on each other and say hello.
Johnny has been featured on my website, we have done radio broadcasts together, taken trips to boxing matches, done things socially, and always sat together while never missing a monthly board meeting with the World Boxing Hall of Fame during our tenures with the organization.
Continue reading Johnny Ortiz (R.I.P.)
