WBC heavyweight champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder and challenger Luis “King Kong” Ortiz went face to face at the final press conference Thursday before their PPV rematch on Saturday at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.
Deontay Wilder
“I’m the best in the world and I say it with confidence. With that being said, I have to give the fans what they’re hungry for. That’s exciting fights. The heavyweight division was in a dark place, but now it’s on fire and I must keep it going.
“Luis Ortiz is one of the best in the world and one of the most dangerous men in boxing. No one in the top 10 has given him an opportunity. They say he’s old, but if that’s the truth, then one of them should get in there with him.
“When I look at the landscape of the heavyweight division, this man still wasn’t getting an opportunity. It was an amazing fight the first time and I’m going to make adjustments this time. That’s what it’s all about. I will be at my best Saturday night.
“I’d rather go through difficulty in the ring than go through my whole career being perfect. What kind of legacy would I have? I want to give you something to remember me by.
“Luis Ortiz looks good, but I don’t think it’s going to matter against a fighter like me. I’m in shape 365 days a year. I come to camp in shape. The first day of camp, we were sparring. It’s always good to see my opponents in shape and prepared properly for a war. That’s all I can ask. Because they know what they’re in for when they go against me.
“This is a great card with great champions and fighters up here. What more could you ask for? Nothing more needs to be said. Now it’s time for action. I’m looking forward to giving everyone the best of me.
“We train very hard to be prepared and go to war. You already know what to expect. The hard part is the waiting. This is what it’s all about. I can’t wait for Saturday night. My opponent has to be perfect for 12 rounds, and I only have to be perfect for one second.”
Luis Ortiz:
“I don’t like to lose. There were legitimate circumstances why I wasn’t at my best the first fight. It was a fatigue stoppage. I believe if I had continued, I would have gotten the knockout. It was only fatigue, but I’ve corrected that this time around, so the better man will win.”
“We will show you on Saturday night how we’re going to win. When the bell rings it will be on display. But we’re always ready to adapt. Everyone will see on Saturday night.
“This will be the second world war between us. I’ve had 500 fights including my amateur fights. At heavyweight, everyone has power. Sometimes it feels like a horse is kicking you. Wilder has a lot of strength, but I’m going to show what I know and what I can do.
“Like I said before, and Deontay said too, this is not going 12 rounds. One of us is getting knocked out. I wish there were no bells between rounds so we could just keep going.
“This isn’t just Deontay fighting any other opponent. Obviously Deontay had his reasons for taking this fight. But on Saturday, I’m going to show why that was a mistake. I’m going to be the new heavyweight champion of the world.
“This is the holy grail, to be taking on the true heavyweight champion of the world. I want to be considered one of the greatest fighters ever from Cuba. I am very thankful to the trainers who I had as a child who taught me the sport.
“I definitely want to thank Deontay, and my whole team, for getting me this opportunity for a rematch. This is what life is all about. This is not going to be my last opportunity. I’m here to fight and that’s what you’ll see on Saturday night.”
Thursday’s press conference also featured three-division champion Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz and Miguel Flores as they previewed their showdown for the vacant WBA super featherweight title that serves as the co-main event.
Leo Santa Cruz
“I think I’ll still throw a lot of punches at the new weight. I always train the same no matter what. My dad says that I need to be working for the whole three minutes of each round.
“The only thing that is different for this fight is that we’re working on our power. We’re working on sitting down on our punches because we know the fighters in this division are bigger and stronger.
“My strength and conditioning coach has been having me do more weights than usual and I’m sparring with bigger guys than usual. The ones I’ve sparred before say that I’m hitting even hard than in the past.
“To all the fans, I’m really happy and excited to put on another great show for you. Miguel and I are going to give a great show for the fans and try to steal the show. It will be hard with this main event, but we’re going to try our best to make it the fight of the night.
“Once the fans see how great the fight is, they’re going to see how amazing a fighter Miguel Flores is. We know what he’s capable of and that’s why I trained so hard to get this win.
“To become a four-division world champion would be a huge accomplishment for me. I never dreamed of winning titles in four divisions. Not many fighters can say that and I’m happy and excited to get in the ring Saturday and make this new dream come true.
“I love fighting for Mexico and I think they’re going to be proud of my performance Saturday night. I fight for them and I hope they keep supporting me as my career goes on.”
Miguel Flores
“Leo is a great champion but we’ve worked hard. In boxing people see the hands fly, but I’ve got ring knowledge. We’re going to offset what he does and get the victory Saturday night.
“There’s not much left to be said. We’re ready. Leo is a great fighter and I respect his family. But when we step in that ring. I’m trying to be like Wilder and knock him out. Leo and I are definitely going to steal the show with an action-packed fight.
“I’m feeling great. We’ve had about a year of camps where Leo was the main focus on the radar. We’re calm, relaxed and ready to let it all go Saturday night. I know it’s going to be a tough fight, but we had a great camp to put on an exciting match.
“There’s going to be a little bit of everything. When you have two Mexican fighters, you just can’t help it. When you take a shot, you want to get it back. But I also know we have to remain smart and calm.
“I know his dad tells him to try to box so we know we have to be ready for that too. If he wants to box we’re ready for a technical fight. But if he wants to brawl, I’m ready to start hooking.
“Everything is going to work for me in there. You want to work and not get hit, but I know that I can take it and give it. On Saturday night, we’re going to give it.
“We have worked a lot on trying to slow down the pace of fighters who throw a lot of punches. I’ve been a volume puncher all my life as well. We’re both warriors and people are underestimating me. I love it because I’m going to give them a surprise on Saturday night.”
Wilder and Ortiz showing respect. Nice…
One way or the other, I hope the local ER is not busy at the hospital close to where the fight goes down. Why? There will be head trauma in this fight. The CT scan will be working overtime on the victim in the KO to rule out any cranial bleeds.
We all know why Wilder is giving him a rematch.. When some “fans” are talking shit about AJ and praising Wilder it makes me laugh. Just compare their boxing records on boxrec and you will understand why !! AJ has fought Klitschko, Ruiz, Takam, White, Parker and Povetkin ; Wilder has fought Fury (who beat him) and an two old past their prime fighters in Stiverne (2 times !) and Ortiz (this one going to be the second against him too !) !! And you are saying that because of the Ruiz loss he’s overrated !!!! Lol some people really don’t know shit..
Joshua fights like a robot, never was impressed even before Ruiz.
Don’t get me wrong he is a good fighter but has a suspect jaw too.
I feel that Joshua is going to win big and resurrect his career but we will see, until than I give Wilder the edges
Including yourself!
Wilder in 2!
This fight sort of reminds me of when Wlad and Sam Peter fought in a rematch. The first fight was close and competitive but the better guy won. In the second fight, it was a total walkover. Ortiz, like Peter, is limited to trying to get that one big punch to get the KO and the other guy is too smart and skilled to get caught. I expect the same thing here. Wilder wins easy, probably by middle rounds. I don’t think this will be all that competitive.
Good analogy
How is comparing Peter with Ortiz a good analogy? Peter was tough and a pretty good brawler while Ortiz is a technically sound boxer with boxer with power. Ortiz can outbox Wilder, while it was never up to debatte that Peter can outbox Wlad.
The rematch can end like Wlad-Peter 2 though. I doubt Wilder will come out firing from round1, but if he does it can be over quick – one way or the other.
Judging merely from the picture, wilder had absolutely zero distress in his face. I dont see any worry whatsoever.
Heavyweights are getting crowded with great talents. There have been so far three to five main characters, but that soon will disappear with this new batch of guys, that could change the heavyweight landscape. Dubois, Joyce, Flip Hrgovic, Usyk, Tony Yoka and few others.
Ortiz is a good man, a good boxer, but he is belong to the group of fighters that should retire next year. Him, Povetkin, Chisora, Oquendo, Arreola and many others should retire next year IMO.
If for some how he wins, what benefit the heavyweights get of that?
It will be interesting, while it lasts.
I love when fighters say it was fatigue. It was the punch that sapped the energy. Same thing happened to Joshua when he got tagged. Getting tagged drains the legs.
Im stunned that those strings, I mean ankles, can support him to pivot let alone square off.
At heavyweight, everyone has power but when Wilder hits you it feels like a horse is kicking you.
I can’t believe they are putting this on PPV! Who would pay big bucks to see this rematch?
“I’d rather go through difficulty in the ring than go through my whole career being perfect. What kind of legacy would I have?”
Really?
gardner I agree a strange comment by wilder
This rematch would hold merit had it been immediate or if Ortiz had beaten someone of note in the interim.
looking forward to wilder/Ortiz 2, hope to be able to watch it somewhere