By Jeff Aranow: WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) says he’ll give Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) a title shot against him following his 2nd round knockout win over Daniel Martz (16-6-1, 13 KOs) on Friday night. The 38-year-old Ortiz put Martz down twice to get a stoppage in the 2nd round in their fight at the Hialeah Park Racing & Casino, in Hialeah, Florida.
Wilder came into the ring to talk with Ortiz after the fight to let Ortiz know that he wants to give a second chance to fight him. What’s unclear is whether this was a planned move on Wilder and Ortiz’s part. Presumably, Wilder isn’t the one that makes his fights. It’s done by his management. They pick out his opponents.
If Wilder is now picking out his own opponents to fight rather than his adviser Al Haymon and manager Shelly Finkel, he could make a mistake and jeopardize the big money fight against Anthony Joshua in 2018. Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn don’t seem anxious to setup a fight with the dangerous Ortiz.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WSjGAkPscFA
Ortiz had been scheduled to fight Wilder last month on November 4. But a positive drug test by Ortiz caused him to be pulled from the fight with the 6’7” Wilder. Bermane Stiverne got the title shot against Wilder. The World Boxing Council recently re-instated Ortiz in their rankings after giving him a $25,000 fine.
“I’ve wanted you and I’m going to bless you again with another opportunity,” said Wilder. “I was ready the first time. This is a new day for you. I think you’re one of the best heavyweights in the world and I want to prove that I am the best. We must fight each other. You will have your fight,” said Wilder.
Wilder was pretty angry looking at times when he was speaking with Ortiz. The difference between the two couldn’t have been more extreme. Wilder seemed annoyed at Ortiz. I don’t know why. Ortiz challenged Wilder to a fight because he wants the money that comes from fighting him, and also the chance to capture his WBC heavyweight world title. Ortiz hasn’t had any luck fighting Anthony Joshua. There’s been absolutely no interest on Joshua and Hearn’s part in fighting Ortiz and it’s probable that there never will be any interest.
“Anthony Joshua doesn’t want to fight either of us, let’s give the world this fight,” said Ortiz. “There will be no excuses. I will be ready to do this for Cuba!”
If Wilder schedules a fight with Ortiz and he tests positive for a banned substance again, then he can forget about a third fight. Ortiz has tested positive for banned substances on 2 difference occasions in the past. Ortiz is going to need to make sure that doesn’t happen a third time if he wants get a title shot before ages out.
Ortiz does not look like the same fighter he was several years ago. He looked slow, easy to hit, and not the explosive fighter he was in his fights with Bryant Jennings, Tony Thompson and Lateef Kayode. Ortiz has aged visibly since then. It’s too bad Ortiz isn’t the same fighter he was back then, because he would have given Wilder a real run for his money if he was still at his best.