By Keith Idec
NEW YORK – Deontay Wilder wants to destroy Luis Ortiz in a manner similar to how he obliterated Bermane Stiverne in his last fight.
The WBC heavyweight champion didn’t predict another first-round knockout, but Wilder thinks Ortiz will be dangerous only for four rounds when they finally fight March 3 in Brooklyn. Wilder and Ortiz went face-to-face Wednesday, when their fight was one of nine main events Showtime touted during its “2018 Boxing Upfront” event in Manhattan.
Showtime will televise the bout between Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) and Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs, 2 NC) from Barclays Center.
“I’m looking to get him out in great fashion,” Wilder said. “The longer I keep him in, the more tired he’s gonna get anyway. Ortiz, he ain’t got nothing but three rounds in him. Well, I’ll give him four. He’s got four good rounds in him, and then that’s when you see a downfall in him. So if he can’t do nothing in them four rounds, then that’s gonna be the end to him.
“But I’m looking to come in and finish him off in devastating fashion, just like I did Bermane Stiverne, and go on to send a message to Anthony Joshua, so he can go on and do what he’s gotta do on March the 31st against Joseph Parker.”
The 38-year-old Ortiz was supposed to challenge Wilder on November 4 at Barclays Center. Stiverne, Wilder’s mandatory challenger, replaced him once Ortiz tested positive for two banned diuretics late in September.
The 32-year-old Wilder is wary of Ortiz’s history of PED use, yet doesn’t expect the powerful Cuban southpaw to pose much of a threat to him.
“I don’t feel no fighter has nothing that could be difficult for me,” Wilder said, “but what he does do good is he definitely has fundamental skills in boxing. All the Cubans have the fundamental skills. They teach that and that’s what he has. He can put combinations together well, and that’s all I can say about the guy, to be honest. I think it’s gonna be a great fight while it lasts. I’m just happy I can bless him with the opportunity not once, but twice.”
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.