By Dean Berman: WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder bristled at being compared to former champion Anthony Joshua during Tuesday’s International media conference call. Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) made it clear that he’s a completely different fighter than the British heavyweight, who he says gave his belts to Andy Ruiz Jr.
Wilder defends against Luis Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) on November 23 on Fox Sports PPV at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada. Joshua and Ruiz Jr. will likely both be tuning in to see how Wilder does. One of those two heavyweights will likely be facing Wilder next year.
Wilder sees mental weakness with Joshua, and he feels he’s nothing like the 6’6″ former champion. Deontay is predicting a loss for Joshua when he faces Ruiz in their rematch next month on December 7 in Saudi Arabia. If Joshua and Wilder both win their next fights, then perhaps they can face each other in 2020.
Deontay: Joshua gave his belts over to Ruiz
Me and Anthony Joshua have a different mindset.
“My mindset is very strong. It’s way stronger than him, and I spoke about this before. Joshua, he called upon it himself. He knew he was going to lose one day. He even spoke it to the universe.
“Even when it came time to happen, he gave his belts over to Ruiz. He literally transported his belts to this man. His energy gave the belts to the man. You could see it.
“For me, my mindset is different. I’m a totally different kind [of person], and a totally different fighter. And I’m the best in the world, and I prove it each and every time I go inside the ring. I’m not worried about going in there and making mistakes and stuff. And if I do make any mistakes in the ring, rest assured, I will correct it as the fight goes on,” Wilder.
Joshua might see his career end as an elite level fighter when he faces Ruiz on December 7th. Some boxing fans are predicting that Joshua will retire if he loses the rematch.
Wilder says no one wanted to fight Ortiz
“My ultimate reason for giving him a rematch was he’s still one of the best in the world, and no one is giving Ortiz an opportunity,” said Wilder or Ortz. “Even after me defeating him the first time [no one would fight him]. Most of the time when you defeat someone, and especially knock them out, the other guys are willing to fight him.
“They see weaknesses, but in Ortiz’s situation none of these guys still wanted to fight him. They didn’t want to fight him then, and they don’t want to fight him now. So I wanted to give him an opportunity again to prove all doubts.
“Secondly, Ortiz has a family. I grew a great bond with Ortiz the first time. And I saw a lot of the top guys at heavyweight didn’t want to bless him [give him a fight]. I wanted to bless him again. Not only for him being a great warrior, but also for his family.
“I wanted to bless him on pay-per-view. This is his last fight, and that might be his last hoorah. At 40-years-old, coming in, when you fight Deontay Wilder, I take something from you. And I take years from your life. Now this man is coming in again,” said Wilder.
It is sad that none of the top heavyweights in the division wanted to fight Ortiz. Out of all the guys that could have fought Ortiz, it was Wilder that stepped up the plate and gave him a title shot. Wilder giving Ortiz a second title shot is even more courageous.
Wilder making his 10th title defense
“I see this fight going one way and that’s Deontay Wilder knocking out Luis Ortiz point blank and period,” said Wilder. “He knows it, and I know it. When we went into the ring for the first time, he hit me with everything but the kitchen sink. The shots that he knows he usually hits his opponents with and they go down, but I’m a different fighter. And with that being said, I got a lot of things that I need to do. I’m fighting for one champion, one face and one name and that’s the unification. Nothing is going to get in my way of doing that. Nobody. It’s definitely not easy to do [make 10 title defenses], and it’s a great accomplishment for myself, and my career. It’s definitely going to carry me as I rake up these numbers. And it’s just a number for me and it’s a great honor for me to say this is my 10th title defense I’m about to have,” said Wilder.
It’s incredible that Wilder will be making his 10th title defense of his World Boxing Council heavyweight title. When Wilder fought for the title in 2015 against WBC champion Bermane Stiverne, many fans expected him to lose. Now after nine successful title defenses, Wilder’s doubters have to admit that they were wrong about him
Wilder fighting for his legacy
“For many, they never thought I would be heavyweight champion of the world, period,” said Wilder. “Here I am with 10 title defenses and 40 fights that have been knocked out. It’s amazing to be at this point in time. All I can do at this point in time in my career is rake up numbers. I’ve always fought for legacy, and I’m still fighting for that. I just want to be the best in the world, and the best that has ever done it.
“When people think about boxing, I want them to say, ‘Deontay Wilder.’ I’m doing everything in my power to still bring it to be the best. If numbers are the thing that makes you stand out. I think if people look at numbers that make you stand out, then so be it. Not only do I want my numbers to stand out for me, but also my actions as well. You know that actions speak louder than words any day, and that’s what it means to me,” said Wilder.
With each successful title defense that WBC champion Wilder makes, he adds to his legacy and cements himself into the history books. If Wilder can beat Ortiz, and then defeat Tyson Fury and the Joshua-Ruiz rematch winner, he’ll be a major star. Wilder will enter into a different pay bracket.