WBA interim heavyweight world champion Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz (24-0, 21 KOs) will make his first title defense of world title against Tony “The Tiger” Thompson (40-6, 27 KOs) in 12-round main event at the DC Armory, in Washington D.C. on Saturday, March 5 and televised live on HBO Boxing After Dark. The bout will serve as a replacement for Ortiz’s original foe, Alexander Ustinov

The telecast will start with a WBA  world title fight between Sadam “World Kid” Ali (22-0, 13 KOs) and former world champion Jessie Vargas (26-1, 9 KOs) in a 12-round co-main event for the vacant WBO welterweight world championship. Tim Bradley today announced that he gave up his title making this bout for Bradley’s vacant belt.