3rd March, 2018
Photo: Boxing247.com
By Kazeem Ugbodaga, with Agency Report
Undefeated WBC World Heavyweight champion, Deontay Wilder, 214 pounds put his title on the line on Saturday night as he fights his toughest opponent, Luis Ortiz in New York.
Wilder, 32, is regarded as the baddest boxer in the heavyweight division as he has 39-0 record, with 38 knockouts, while Ortiz, 241 pounds, the challenger and 38 years has a record of 28-0, with 24 knockouts.
The ‘Bronze Bomber’ as he is popularly called, Wilder exhibits confidence and an aura of superiority ahead of the fight in few hours to come.
According to Sky Sports, Wilder is the longest-reigning of any current titleholder in his division, but his critics accuse him of never having tested himself against a top-drawer challenger. That accusation ends in the early hours of Sunday.
On the other hand, Luis Ortiz is the enigma of the heavyweights – southpaw, defensively-proficient and with a left hand that flies down the pipe, nobody fights him unless they really have to. But, Wilder has welcomed the opportunity.
Both fighters have never lost a fight and at the end of the fight tonight, one of them is expected to have his ‘0’ changed to ‘1’ loss.
The champion from Alabama is 39-0 having knocked out every opponent that has shared a ring with him, but none of those brought the dangers that Cuba’s Ortiz offers. Nevertheless, the vicious power in Wilder’s right hand will be enough to chalk up a seventh successful title defence – the question is whether he can land his big punch on his wiliest rival to date, Sky Sports reports.
Ortiz is unbeaten in 28 but, aged 38, has his own questions to answer about life in the heavyweight fast-lane. This fight should have already happened but was scrapped when Ortiz failed a drug test – Wilder insisted it should be rescheduled.
According to Wilder, “I’m going to let the world know that the weight don’t mean a thing; it’s all mental at the end of the day. Like I’ve said, I’d rather be the part than look the part. I’ve said many a time that I put these guys on their ass, and that’s what I come to do Saturday night. Over and over again all my guys have out-weighed me. So that’s nothing compared to where I came from, and nothing compared to where I’m going come Saturday night. You’re all in for a treat and I can’t wait.
“On paper he’s looked good against the opposition he’s faced, but he’s never faced a Bronze Bomber; he’s never faced a guy who has more killer instinct than him. He’s never faced a guy who wants to just rip his head off, and I do mean rip his head off! I am the best and I’m ready to show on Saturday night that I’m the best in the world.”
But Ortiz said: “Our training camp was prepared for whatever Deontay Wilder was going to bring into the ring, whether it was a runner, or a puncher – whatever he wants to do we have trained for it so there’s no problem.
“You have to adapt and make changes come fight night, and I’m prepared to do that and I’m experienced to do that. I’ve been waiting my whole career to do this as a pro and as an amateur this is something I never dreamed I would do, and I’m not losing.”