LAS VEGAS – Luis Ortiz laughed out loud Tuesday when asked why boxing fans and reporters are so interested in whether he’s actually older than his listed age of 40. (photo by Ryan Hafey)

Deontay Wilder doesn’t get the fascination with Ortiz’s age, either.

“You know, we’re always hearing about his age, his age, his age,” Wilder told a small group of reporters after their grand arrivals at MGM Grand. “But who really cares? We’ve seen many a guys with age and still go and dominate and defeat [younger fighters]. I can think of two right off the top of my head that have done an amazing job – that’s Bernard Hopkins and we know George Foreman came back at what, 45, 46, and did the impossible. We’ve gotta understand that age ain’t nothing but a number.”

Wilder did admit Ortiz looks older than 40 – the age, according to Ortiz, he turned March 29.

“He told me 40,” said Wilder, who’ll oppose Ortiz in a 12-round rematch Saturday night at MGM Grand Garden Arena. “You know what I mean? In his face, he look about 45. But we’re gonna go with 40. I’m gonna give him the benefit of the doubt. And, I mean, it don’t matter how old he is. He could be 50 years old. How many 50-year-olds you know gonna step in that ring a second time, especially with a guy like me?”

Critics have chastised Wilder for fighting an even older Ortiz 20 months after Wilder dropped Ortiz three times and stopped him in the 10th round of their March 2018 fight at Barclays Center in Brooklyn. Wilder wonders why, however, no other top heavyweight has been willing to fight Ortiz once, let alone twice, if the strong southpaw is such an aged, faded fighter.

“Age, it don’t matter,” Wilder said. “It’s all about how you feel inside. And when they’re dealing with age, why none of these younger fighters haven’t fought him? I don’t believe in that. I don’t care how old he is. He could be 99 years old. If he’s able to go in that ring, get in that ring, I’m gonna beat his old ass. That’s plain and simple.”

The 34-year-old Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs), of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, is consistently listed as a 6-1 favorite to retain his WBC title versus Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs, 2 NC). Their rematch is the main event of FOX Sports’ four-fight, pay-per-view telecast (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.