While the Cuban heavyweight contender wants another shot at Wilder himself, he will first have to go through former challenger Razvan Cojanu on a PBC on Showtime card July 28 at Staples Center in LA.
Heavyweight contender Luis Ortiz wants a shot at revenge against Deontay Wilder, but he’ll have to put that goal on hold for a while. In the meantime the Cuban southpaw believes Wilder would “knock out” his English counterpart Anthony Joshua “within three rounds,” if a clash between the heavyweight champions ever materializes.
For his part, Ortiz (28-1, 24 KOs) isn’t sitting around waiting for a rematch. He is slated to meet Razvan Cojanu (16-3, 9 KOs) on July 28 in a 10-round bout that is the co-feature of a Showtime-televised card (10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT) at Staples Center in Los Angeles. It will be the 39-year-old “Real King Kong’s” first ring appearance since a 10th-round TKO loss to Wilder on March 3.
After defeating Ortiz, Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) began eyeing a potential unification showdown with Joshua, especially after hearing his name uttered by the Briton on March 31. Joshua called out Wilder following his unanimous decision over Joseph Parker. With that victory, Joshua added Parker’s WBO crown to his IBF and WBA titles.
Representatives for Wilder and Joshua soon began talking. But after months of failing to reach an agreement, Wilder has shifted his focus to defending his WBC title. Joshua, on the other hand, has opted to face Alexander Povetkin on Sept. 22 at London’s Wembley Stadium.
Wilder’s confidence got a significant boost after his win over Ortiz. It was a difficult fight for Wilder, but he’s certain of defeating Joshua after surviving the man he considers the toughest challenge in the heavyweight division.
“Ortiz was a challenging fight and the defining career win that I needed because he’s a southpaw who made me have to think,” Wilder said. “Ortiz is better than Joshua and Parker and would beat them both. I am the No. 1 heavyweight in the world, and Ortiz is No. 2. After watching Joshua against Parker, it would be an easier fight than I thought. I’m gonna have fun in there.”
With the Joshua fight in limbo, Wilder is now open to facing any highly ranked heavyweight contender. Ortiz will have to earn another title shot, but he’s confident that will happen in the not-too-distant future.
“ Ortiz is better than Joshua and Parker and would beat them both. I am the No. 1 heavyweight in the world, and Ortiz is No. 2. ” WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder
If the champions can ever come to terms, Ortiz envisions Wilder stopping Joshua. From his point of view, Wilder has too many tools in his favor. And the fight wouldn’t last long.
“Wilder would knock out Joshua in three rounds,” said Ortiz, of a clash that would yield the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
“Wilder’s the faster and more aggressive of the two fighters. Of the two fighters, Wilder probably has the better chin. Joshua will not be able to withstand Wilder’s punching power.”
Wilder was ringside at Wembley Stadium in April 2017 when Joshua secured his second world title with an 11th-round TKO of then-41-year-old Wladimir Klitschko. Joshua was dropped in the sixth before flooring Klitschko in the fifth and 11th rounds.
“Wladimir Klitschko put Joshua on his [butt], and a younger Wladimir would have gotten him outta there,” Ortiz said. “Wilder will not forget what Klitschko did to Joshua, so I see Wilder being all over him and Joshua hitting the floor. Joshua will have no answer for Wilder’s style, which is a crazy powerful approach coupled with his chin.
“With all of that being said, Wilder is the superior fighter. Joshua will not be able to withstand his punches at all, point-blank, period.”
Wilder concurs with Ortiz, whom he floored once in the fifth and twice in the final round after being staggered, himself, in the seventh.
“Joshua won’t be able to follow me or handle all of my movement. I’m too mobile, giving him too many angles and changing the trajectory of my head or punches at any given time. [Joshua] knows he’s gonna lose one day, and that it’s going to be against me,” Wilder said.
“I know I’m going to knock him out. He’ll show courage until he runs out of gas. Then it’s life and death for him. Once he’s tired, I see him giving up. Once that happens, I’m going to turn up the heat on him and it’s a wrap. They may throw in the towel.”
For a closer look at Luis Ortiz, check out his fighter page.
- Topics
- Luis Ortiz
- Deontay Wilder
