rafaelortiz

Rafael Ortiz

March 12, 1978 - March 19, 2008

I received the news Wednesday evening that one of the most courageous men I have ever known had died. That simply was not supposed to happen. I knew that Rafael Ortiz had been in the hospital. I knew that he had complained of chest pains and weakness in his legs in his last fight. But Rafael Ortiz was a battler. I, like a lot of those that watched him in the ring, knew that when the odds were against him, he dug deep and fought harder. I had seen that aspect of him in life, and I knew that by week's end he would be home. Sadly, Rafael's battle in the hospital would take his life.

Rafael stepped in the ring against some of the toughest fighters in his weight class, and while he did not win every fight, he never really lost. There was an aspect of victory in Rafael. He always smiled after fights. If he lost, he did not make excuses; he looked at what he did well, and complimented the other man in the ring. He was gracious and humble in victory and in defeat.

Rafael surrounded himself with people who reflected his values and his concerns. He loved the sport, but perhaps not as much as he loved his family. Oh how his eyes lit up when he talked about his wife Adelina, and his kids Marcos and Anali. He loved to compete, but perhaps not as much as he loved to travel and laugh with Wally, Jesse and Hugo. And after the fights, Rafael was just as likely to embrace his opponent as he was any of the previously mentioned folks.

The casual visitor to Fight Facts or BoxRec will see that Rafael was 14-14-2 (13KO) and think about an average fighter. However, those of us who saw him fight know so much more. Consider that 13 of 14 wins came by knockout. How much power does such a man possess? Consider that 10 of his 14 losses went the distance. How much heart does such a man possess? Those reading this should be as lucky to possess a fraction of what Rafael brought to the world in terms of reaching all of one's potential.

And now we have memories. We remember Rafael's smile, his intensity, his work ethic, his boxing talent. Saddened as I was that Rafael had passed, I choose to think of myself as the Wedding Guest in Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," in that I shall be, 'A sadder and a wiser man' for having known Rafael Ortiz.

Rafael and Jesse

Ortiz Floored Martin O'Malley

Rafael's Right Caught Santos Pakau on the Chin

Rafael Used His Left to Sting Rob Frankel

Wally, Jeff, Rafael, Hugo and Jesse Celebrate With the Washington State Light Welterweight Title

Recitation of the Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Edward’s Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m., also at the church. Burial will be at the Lebanon IOOF Cemetery.

Contributions to help defray expenses may be made to the Rafael Ortiz Memorial Fund at Washington Mutual Bank.

Rafael Ortiz	March 12, 1978 - March 19, 2008
I received the news Wednesday evening that one of the most courageous men I have ever known had died. That simply was not supposed to happen. I knew that Rafael Ortiz had been in the hospital. I knew that he had complained of chest pains and weakness in his legs in his last fight. But Rafael Ortiz was a battler. I, like a lot of those that watched him in the ring, knew that when the odds were against him, he dug deep and fought harder. I had seen that aspect of him in life, and I knew that by week's end he would be home. Sadly, Rafael's battle in the hospital would take his life. Rafael stepped in the ring against some of the toughest fighters in his weight class, and while he did not win every fight, he never really lost. There was an aspect of victory in Rafael. He always smiled after fights. If he lost, he did not make excuses; he looked at what he did well, and complimented the other man in the ring. He was gracious and humble in victory and in defeat. Rafael surrounded himself with people who reflected his values and his concerns. He loved the sport, but perhaps not as much as he loved his family. Oh how his eyes lit up when he talked about his wife Adelina, and his kids Marcos and Anali. He loved to compete, but perhaps not as much as he loved to travel and laugh with Wally, Jesse and Hugo. And after the fights, Rafael was just as likely to embrace his opponent as he was any of the previously mentioned folks. The casual visitor to Fight Facts or BoxRec will see that Rafael was 14-14-2 (13KO) and think about an average fighter. However, those of us who saw him fight know so much more. Consider that 13 of 14 wins came by knockout. How much power does such a man possess? Consider that 10 of his 14 losses went the distance. How much heart does such a man possess? Those reading this should be as lucky to possess a fraction of what Rafael brought to the world in terms of reaching all of one's potential. And now we have memories. We remember Rafael's smile, his intensity, his work ethic, his boxing talent. Saddened as I was that Rafael had passed, I choose to think of myself as the Wedding Guest in Coleridge's "Rime of the Ancient Mariner," in that I shall be, 'A sadder and a wiser man' for having known Rafael Ortiz.	Rafael and Jesse
Ortiz Floored Martin O'Malley	Rafael's Right Caught Santos Pakau on the Chin
Rafael Used His Left to Sting Rob Frankel	Wally, Jeff, Rafael, Hugo and Jesse Celebrate With the Washington State Light Welterweight Title
Recitation of the Rosary will be at 10:30 a.m. Monday at St. Edward’s Catholic Church. A funeral Mass will follow at 11 a.m., also at the church. Burial will be at the Lebanon IOOF Cemetery.	Contributions to help defray expenses may be made to the Rafael Ortiz Memorial Fund at Washington Mutual Bank.