Tonight at The Barclays Arena in New York, Deontay Wilder will take on the sternest opposition he has faced during his professional career to date.
He will look to make the seventh defence of his WBC world heavyweight crown against the seasoned Cuban southpaw, Luis Ortiz who makes his first attempt at the world title.
Both combatants put their undefeated records on the line when they face off at one of the most mouthwatering heavyweight match-ups in some time.
They say 7 is a lucky number. I’ve defended my #WBCHeavyweightTitle 6 times already. That makes #LuisOrtiz lucky number 7. I already have God, power and skills on my side, and now I have luck too. I can’t lose. #WilderOrtiz#BombZquad#KINGvsKong#PBConShowtimepic.twitter.com/LZv9YyziQA
— Deontay Wilder (@BronzeBomber) March 2, 2018
Wilder weighed in for the bout at the weight of 214 lbs. a traditional weight in a division where some of the most decorated heavyweight champions of all time such as Muhammad Ali and Mike Tyson weighed in very close to that weight in their respective fighting primes.
Luiz Ortiz weighed in at a whopping 241 lbs and the unified world heavyweight titleholder, Anthony Joshua weighed in at 254 lbs in his last fight in late October 2017.
Joshua and Wilder now have weighed in 40 lbs apart in their last fights. Many feel that the sheer size advantage Joshua will enjoy when he eventually takes on ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will be too much for him to cope with.
Wilder is unruffled by those suggestions and has insisted those picking Joshua to be too much of an ask for him to not change their mind after witnessing what he does to Luis Ortiz tonight.
“I don’t want anybody to change their prediction about me versus Joshua after what they see on Saturday night.
I’m going to keep proving people wrong just like I’ve always done. I love proving people wrong,” Wilder said.
“When I think about Luis Ortiz, I see threes. It’s a magical number.”
‘The Bronze Bomber’ is predicting he will dispatch his Cuban adversary inside of nine minutes of fighting action.
“I see a third round knockout. I’ve done what I’ve said so far, and I haven’t let anybody down.”
“I will knock him out and then I will unify the division. I’m on a mission.”
“There will be one champion, one face and one name. Deontay Wilder;” Wilder concluded.
On the other hand, Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz is focused on becoming the first Cuban professional world heavyweight champion in boxing history and is predicting an enthralling fight.
“Like I always say, this is my time and it’s going to be a great triumph. This is big for all of Cuban boxing and I will make my country proud. This is going to be like two trains on the same track about to collide.
“I’m going to win and I’m going to take his belt,” Ortiz said.
“This is not a video game. This is not using controllers. You have to actually step into the ring with me on Saturday night.”
Following their final face-off at yesterday’s weigh in for the fight, Ortiz believes he detected some fear in the eyes of Wilder.
“Deontay is scared. He’s talking a lot of nonsense. He’s worried about what I’m going to do. This is my time. I’m going to show everyone. I’m 100 percent ready to go.
“Sparring has been amazing and I’m totally prepared for Deontay Wilder. Deontay’s biggest mistake is that he talks too much,” Ortiz added.
“I looked into his eyes and I knew that I’m not going to lose this opportunity. I’m going to be the first Cuban and the first Latino born outside the country to win a title.
“Saturday night will be historic. I’m going to make the most of my chance and knock Deontay Wilder out.”
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