Boxing
Deontay Wilder, Luis Ortiz promise 'second world war' that won't go the distance
LAS VEGAS — The last time Deontay Wilder and Luis Ortiz met in a boxing ring, fans were treated to a thrilling battle between a pair of top-tier heavyweights that had drama, excitement and a scintillating conclusion that saw Wilder retain his WBC title with a 10th-round stoppage.
Less than two years after their first meeting, the pair are ready to dance again as Wilder will put his title on the line against Ortiz on Saturday, Nov. 23 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
And if you thought the first fight was full of fireworks, both fighters promise that the judges will be of no use the second time around.
“In reality, nobody comes to a fight and wants to see it go 12 rounds,” Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) said at the final press conference. “People have other plans and things to do that night. It's my job to make sure fans leave entertained and with a dramatic knockout”
Outside of Tyson Fury, Wilder has stopped every opponent he has stepped into a boxing ring with. And with Ortiz already tasting defeat at the hands of The Bronze Bomber, few expect the rematch to see the final bell.
However, Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) does know that he can hurt Wilder, as evidenced in the seventh round of their first fight where he came within seconds of becoming the new WBC champion.
After two minutes of pawing at each other with jabs, Ortiz caught Wilder with a vicious right hook that destroyed the champion’s equilibrium. Smelling blood, Ortiz drove in for the kill and unleashed a hellacious onslaught of punches that Wilder somehow managed to survive.
Wilder would eventually stop Ortiz in the 10th, but the precedent was set that Ortiz is a dangerous opponent who could end things with one punch.
“It’s going to be a second world war,” Ortiz said through a translator. “As Wilder said, it's not going the distance because either he knocks me out or I knock him out.
“I wish there were no bells between rounds so we could just keep going until it ends.”
It may sound barbaric, but both fighters want to put their stamp on the rivalry with a definitive conclusion. A decision leaves room for controversy, and neither fighter wants that.
“Get ready for war,” Wilder responded. “But I’m in the knockout business, so get your popcorn and pizza, go to the bathroom, make sure you aren’t around anybody that will disturb you and put your cell phone in your pocket.
“You don’t want to have to look up and say what happened because it can end in the blink of an eye.”
