Carlos Ortiz vs Flash Elorde

On February 15, 1964, Carlos Ortiz successfully defended his WBC and WBA World Lightweight Titles against Gabriel "Flash" Elorde at the Rizal Memorial Sports Complex in Manila, Philippines. This bout marked Ortiz's third title defence, and it was a significant event given Elorde's reputation as a former world super-featherweight titleholder. Ortiz, with a record of 42-4-0 at the time, faced Elorde, who had a more extensive experience with a record of 71-18-2.

The fight was closely contested, with Ortiz maintaining a lead on all three judges' scorecards throughout. However, as the rounds passed, Ortiz began to dominate his challenger until in the 14th round, referee Jimmy Wilson intervened, stopping the fight as Elorde was being pummeled against the ropes. Despite the stoppage, Elorde protested afterwards, claiming he was not in serious trouble and that the fight should have been allowed to continue. This assertion highlights the competitive nature of the bout and Elorde's resilience.

Ortiz's victory over Elorde was part of a remarkable career that made him one of history's most successful Puerto Rican boxers. Ortiz initially won the world junior welterweight title by defeating Kenny Lane in June 1959. After losing twice to Duilio Loi, Ortiz dropped to the lightweight division and captured the WBA world lightweight title from Joe Brown. His reign as lightweight champion included multiple title defences against notable opponents, including a rematch with Elorde in November 1966, which Ortiz also won by knockout in the 14th round.