By Miguel Maravilla
WBC heavyweight world champion, Tuscaloosa’s Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KO’s) returns to defend his title once again versus Cuba’s Luis “King Kong” Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO’s) in a rematch as they will clash on Saturday, November 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas live on FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View. Fightnews.com caught up with the champ as he talked about the rematch with Ortiz.
“Here we go again. The only way for there to be a rematch was for there to be an exciting first fight. It was amazing and inspiring to go up against such a skillful fighter,” Deontay Wilder said. “That first fight was a test for me.”
The two met last year in March at the Barclays Center in what was an action-packed fight. Wilder dropped Ortiz in the fifth but the Cuban had his moment as he badly hurt Wilder as the champ was staggered and saved by the bell. Wilder, however, was able to stop Ortiz in the tenth in what was one of his toughest fights to date.
“I was never hurt, I was buzzed but never hurt. All I remember is keep punching. I was coaching my self mentally,” Wilder on the first fight with Ortiz. “He caught me and he knew I was buzzed but I kept getting close to him. I got close to him because I knew he wouldn’t have good distance to land his shots solidly,” Wilder added.
Now the rematch is set as Wilder is confident about the victory over Ortiz.
‘When I look at the video. I know I can do other things the second time around. Facing him again is going to be a lot easier the second time,” Wilder said. “There was a lot of things he was smart about. I also had the flu in that fight,” Wilder added.
Since their first fight, Wilder has fought twice as he fought Tyson Fury to draw in a wild one last November. Wilder is coming off a quick first round knockout over 2012 U.S. Olympian Dominic Breazeale this past May.
“It’s always good delivering the knockout and that’s what I’m planning to do in this fight,” Wilder said.
Ortiz is coming into fight winning three straight fights since suffering his knockout loss to Wilder. Bouncing back with a pair of knockouts over Razvan Cojanu and Travis Kauffman and in his last fight won a unanimous decision over Christian Hammer in his last fight as he looks to even the score with Wilder.
“I created a bond with Ortiz fighting the first time because of our daughters. We were two fathers in the ring who had to battle it out for our families,” Wilder said about respect. “I know he is coming into this fight wanting to get some payback. I’m looking forward to giving the fans what they want to see and even better if it’s a first round knockout. That will pump up the Fury fight,”
Not that Wilder is looking past Ortiz, as there are already plans for a rematch with Tyson Fury early next year.
“If everything is good with him then yeah, he says he wants to fight,” Wilder on the Fury rematch. “I will open up that cut on his eye.”
The cut Wilder is referring to, is the nasty cut that Tyson Fury suffered on his eye in his decision win over Otto Wallin in his last fight as Fury was able to pull off a decision over the German. Not looking ahead but Wilder still has the tough task in Ortiz which could spoil the chances of a rematch with Fury. Wilder is confident that the rematch will be much easier and promises to deliver.
“I’m the king, I’m the champ, I’m the baddest man on the planet. To be able to show that I’m the biggest star in boxing. I’m going to need a knockout,” Wilder said. “I’m a true champion. A true champion can walk it like he talks it, and I walk it like I talk it every time,” Wilder concluded.
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Wilder has a point in his statement. Ortiz is not younger and appeared to be slowing down in his last fight. Wilder knows he must make a statement in this fight as many of the critics will criticize him if Ortiz does well in his performance. Fury looked rather stagnant in his fight and he danced more than he boxed. For a big man, Fury has limited power. Wilder’s power is an equalizer in any of his fights as it can level the playing field rather quickly.
Wilder only has right hand powder. Stay away from the right hand Ortiz has a good chance on winning on points or even a late KO.
Ortiz hasn’t been the same since his testosterone isn’t in the 4000s.
Make sense his comments and also beside sincere, we might say with a glance of maturity. Just one exception: He is not the biggest star in boxing
This fight is a joke. Sad that it’s PPV. Ortiz is fat and old, unfortunately Wilder is going to walk through him this time.
Pretty sure people said the same thing about foreman vs moorer
Andy Ruiz Jr is fat, what is your point? Ortiz was old the last time Wilder fought him and look at the damage he did. George Forman won a title at an old age and Manny Pacquiao is still fighting at age Forty and winning titles. If you are trying to make a statement, at least sound legit.
Wilder won’t fight my friend Roy D Mercer cause he knows Roy would give him an ass whuppin.
Way better fight than Fury- Wallin at least
The fight is decent, but it shouldn’t be a PPV event. It seems like a dangerous fight for Wilder with a lot to lose and little to gain. Ortiz will have hard time going the distance because he will gas and start getting hit late in the fight, but he will be dangerous early. Wilder has to be careful he doesn’t get too aggressive and wild early in the fight and walks into a counter.
Put mike Tyson in a time machine take him back to his prime then put windmill arms wilder in with him …. Tyson would destroy wilder and any other h/w of modern times …. I know that and so do all of you
Mike Tyson could have gone down as the greatest Boxer of all time. If he kept his original team around him.
All the “Tyson was so great” statements are always followed by if/but statements. His biggest wins were against a way-past-prime Larry Holmes and Tony Tucker. Let that sink in.
Way-past-prime? Really? Recall, Holmes made a come backa few years after the Tyson fight. He did pretty well then, going against Holyfield (lost only by a UD), beating Ray Mercer, and other decent fighters. Not bad for an old man. Also, he was only a couple years from losing a very controversial fight against Spinks before he fought Tyson. No one gave Holmes a beating like Tyson did. Rusty? Perhaps. Way-past-prime? Doubtful.
And those were not his biggest wins. The seemingly unbeatable Spinks the Jinks he easily blew threw. And those fighters he beat to unify the titles were not phenomenal fighters but they were good veterans with lots of experience. Moreover, later on Razor Ruddock was a solid win (twice). He was greatly feared in the heavyweight division at that time. Mike took the steam out of his career.
It remains true that when Tyson was focused in training and disciplined in his personal life, he was unstoppable. If he kept Keven Rooney and not get caught up with Don King, he would not have lost against Douglas, and go onto to beat Holyfield (though a close fight) Lewis, Bowe, Mercer, , Morrison, Moorer, and Foreman.
You just have to deal with that reality my friend.
@Jason: thanks for putting things into perspective re. the Tyson comments in here.
Without a doubt, Tyson was the most explosive heavyweight in history, no “ifs” or “buts”. The fact that his career derailed is another story and has several reasons, one of them being that Mike fell into a motivational hole after he reached the top. Then came an unjustified 3 year sentence (we know now that Desiree Washington was lying about the rape), and of course the demise of Cus D’Amato, change of team, involvement with Don King, etc.
Tyson never looked for an excuse and he is fully aware of all his mistakes of the past, as well as the psychological problems he tried to work out through boxing.
Everyone can believe whatever they want, but I don’t think there is a single current or past champ who could guarantee you a win against Tyson in his prime. In fact, there is not a single one who could honestly say that he would not have any fear facing Tyson in his prime. He was a destructive monster when he was at his best. No fighter was ever as feared as he was.
Stone: You do know that IF is the biggest word in the English language. And you also know that he was heavily influenced within a certain style. Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve means squat, and many Tyson fans think of any and all excuses why he lost his intensity and focus. You mentioned that no one could guarantee a win against a prime Tyson, well flip the coin to the other side, what the hell would he do against a prime Clay/ALI ? A prime HOLMES, a VERY PRIME FOREMAN? How about Holyfield who OWNED Tyson? Or what does he do againt a PRIME LENNOX??? Prime BOWE??? Ike Ibeabuchi? Liston ? Hell Joe Louis and his 6 inch punch could stop a dinosaur? How about the raging Dempsey, Mr. Killer instinct himself. Anyway he was feared fighter no doubt he also had to many demons in him that he feared.
@Steve: thanks for raising these valid questions. Here’s my take on it: I think that a prime Tyson would have knocked out most other greats in their prime. He may have lost a few fights, but I have zero doubt that he would have knocked out even greats like Ali in his prime. No heavyweight was ever as explosive as Tyson in his prime. He was feared way beyond any other fighter. No one ever feared Ali, Holyfield, or Lennox Lewis. Foreman, Frazier or Joe Louis were feared fighters but not quite at the fear level of Tyson.
In any case, they were all greats in their own right. Tyson’s demons may have cost him his career as an all-time best, but the same demons also made him the most feared heavyweight in history.
The division outgrew guys like Tyson about 20 years ago. It’s similar to the old Marciano argument. Tyson was able to destroy most 6″3″, 235 lb heavyweights and some limited bigger guys but when you have the likes of the Klitschkos, Wilders, Joshuas and Furys it would be physically daunting. Tyson was 5’10” 218 lbs in his prime and had a 67″ reach when these guys are 6’7″ or better and have 86″ reach. Tyson had that issue with Lewis who was 6’5″ 250 lbs. Don’t get me wrong, there’s no bigger fan of him than I and he would still be a wrecking machine…at cruiserweight. It’s time to split the division and create a Superheavyweight division.
I totally agree that this will be easier for Wilder…even pointless. I won’t be purchasing this one.
I am a huge Wilder fan, BUT I didn’t see Wilder having an easy time with Ortiz in the last fight. I saw Wilder use his power shot to make it a level playing field. So for Wilder to say this time will be easier than the last, I hope he meant that he finally found some excellent boxing skills somewhere. Ortiz might be fat and old, but he is still very skilled. Cant take him lightly.. that’s just my opinion and again I am a big Wilder fan believe it or not..
There is a amateur fight that has Wilder knocked out cold, flat on his back like a dead fly. He was beaten by a skillful Russian amateur fighter. Just google it, it is funny. Wilder’s chin is questionable. And his boxing skills are mediocre at best. His crazy power, long-ass reach, gives him his usual victories against mostly mediocre fighters. He has never been tested by a solid boxer or his equal power puncher. His closest test was Fury. He got schooled most rounds. He looked like an amateur in that fight. Fury got sloppy and cocky and was knocked on his ass and nearly out. But a more focused and less cocky Fury will out box him to a victory.
I don’t know. Yes Ortiz is older but so is Deontay who will be 34 by fight time. I give the edge to Wilder but I would not be surprised if Ortiz puts him to sleep.
There is a amateur fight that has Wilder knocked out cold, flat on his back like a dead fly. He was beaten by a skillful Russian amateur fighter. Just google it, it is funny. Wilder’s chin is questionable. And his boxing skills are mediocre at best. His crazy power, long-ass reach, gives him is usual victories against mostly mediocre fighters. He has never been tested by a solid boxer. His closest test was Fury. He got schooled most rounds. He looked like an amateur in that fight. Fury got sloppy and cocky and was knocked on his ass and nearly out. But a more focused and less cocky Fury make out box him to a win.
If it’s going to be easier why should we watch, this guy is a fool, this is not selling a fight, your not Ali who could fight a garbage can and we would watch, “you sir are not Ali”!
I recall Wilder hugging his brother after the first fight and saying he’s sick as a dog. Well if that’s how he fights when not feeling well, he should put away the formidable Ortiz rather quickly.
And the reason for making this a PPV would be…… Sorry I
got nothing.