Ortiz: Wilder-Fury Contracts Mean Nothing; Gotta Go Through Me

LOS ANGELES – If Luis Ortiz is bothered by Deontay Wilder signing a contract for another rematch before they even fight, Wilder’s upcoming opponent isn’t letting on.

The Cuban contender dismissed the deal for Wilder and Fury to fight again February 22 as meaningless. A second Wilder-Fury fight obviously is contingent on Wilder overcoming Ortiz in their own rematch Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Wilder, who stopped Ortiz in the 10th round of their first fight, is most commonly listed as a 6-1 favorite to beat Ortiz again in their FOX Sports Pay-Per-View main event. The 40-year-old Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs, 2 NC) couldn’t care less about those odds or what Wilder, the WBC heavyweight champion, and Fury have planned for February.

“That’s just ink on paper,” Oritz said through his translator. “It doesn’t mean nothing. He’s gotta go through me, so it’s gonna get real for everybody November 23rd.”

England’s Fury secured his place in his own rematch with Wilder by fending off game Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin in their 12-rounder September 14 at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.

That troublesome bout demonstrated just how dangerous this Ortiz rematch could become for Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs), who was buzzed by Ortiz late in the seventh round of their March 2018 battle at Barclays Center in Brooklyn.

One of the previously unknown Wallin’s punches opened a gruesome gash above Fury’s right eye in the third round of that 12-round bout. Wallin (20-1, 13 KOs, 1 NC) rocked Fury with a left hand early in the final round as well.

Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs), touted as boxing’s lineal heavyweight champion, still won a unanimous decision versus Wallin (118-110, 117-111, 116-112).

Wilder floored Fury twice in their fight 11 months ago at Staples Center in Los Angeles. Fury got up both times, though, and battled Wilder to a controversial split draw.

Though they’re committed to fighting again three months after Wilder opposes Ortiz, Fury is not expected to attend the Wilder-Ortiz rematch Saturday night. The 34-year-old Wilder, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and the 40-year-old Ortiz, who resides in Miami, will headline a four-fight pay-per-view event scheduled to start at 9 p.m. ET/6 p.m. PT ($74.95 in HD).

Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.