For an undefeated fighter who has a world title and knocked out nearly everyone he has faced in his career, Deontay Wilder still has something to prove.
Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) has made a litany of boxers in the heavyweight division look helpless against his ferocious power, but his critics will note that even with nearly 40 fights under his belt, he hasn't truly been challenged.
To his credit, the 32-year-old has stayed committed to seeking out an opponent with proven skill, and he will likely get a chance to show he's more than just a walloping right hand when he takes on Luis Ortiz on Saturday night.
Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) was supposed to challenge Wilder for his WBC world heavyweight title in November, but the WBC dropped him after a positive drug test.
That led to Wilder demolishing Bermane Stiverne with a first-round knockout instead, a spectacle that was more of an opportunity for the former to let out his frustrations than an actual competitive boxing match.
Now, the two dangerous punchers are set to clash in what is one of the better fights that can be made in a largely depleted heavyweight division.
Here's how you can check out the action.
Wilder vs. Ortiz Fight Info
When: Saturday, March 3 at 9 p.m. ET
Where: Barclays Center in Brooklyn
TV: Showtime (U.S.), Sky Sports Main Event, Sky Sports Action (UK)
Live Stream: ShowtimeAnytime, Sky Go (UK)
Tickets: StubHub
When we last saw Wilder, he was busy turning Stiverne into a personal punching bag. He knocked the 39-year-old down three times in the first round and barely had time to work up a sweat before delivering a final punishing blow.
The bout looked like it never should have happened, even though Stiverne is the only fighter to go the distance with Wilder. That bout was in January 2015, but the Haiti-born boxer looked a shell of his former self four months ago.Wilder was in the same kind of form that helped him shred the likes of Gerald Washington, Chris Arreola and Artur Szpilka in recent bouts.
The Alabamian isn't lacking for confidence going into this one. He's expecting to do to Ortiz what he has done to so many other fighters who have stepped into the ring with him.
"When I think about Luis Ortiz, I see threes. It's a magical number. I see a third-round knockout," Wilder said, per BoxingNews24.com's Allan Fox. "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."
Ortiz has a better reputation than many of the other boxers Wilder has swiftly cut down, but as Bad Left Hook's Scott Christ noted, he hasn't exactly faced a murderer's row of opponents:
"Who has he beaten? Bryant Jennings was probably his best win, back in December 2015. He finished Jennings in seven, and looked good doing it. He beat a faded Tony Thompson after that, then labored through 12 rounds against Malik Scott, who can ugly up a fight when he wants to, and he wanted to do it that night. In his last two, Ortiz has beaten David Allen and Daniel Martz, non-contenders, in the past two Decembers."Is he a threat to Wilder? Sure. He's a big, strong guy who's a threat to anyone he faces. But how long is he a threat to Wilder? How good is his stamina? How long is his power truly dangerous? That's the real question, at least to me."
Ortiz is something of a cypher to some because he hasn't had many high-profile bouts, but keen observers note he is very skilled.
Writing for Deadspin in late 2016, former boxing manager Charles Farrell called the 38-year-old Cuban "the best heavyweight in the world," although the passing of time may sap Ortiz of some of his skills. Ring has him as the No. 5 heavyweight, three spots behind Wilder.
Heavyweight fighter Nathan Gorman is picking Ortiz to win:
"This fight is not only important for my family, but for Cuban boxing history," Ortiz said, per RingTV.com's Mike Coppinger. "My only focus right now is on the strategy I will need to defeat Wilder, but I know this fight has a lot of significance. I'm going to make history for myself and my country when I knock out Wilder on March 3."These two might start out cagey in respecting each other's skill and power, but as soon as one starts to let the fists fly, this match could be over within a few rounds. Wilder has his thermonuclear right hand, while Ortiz is a slick, powerful southpaw and can really beat up fighters if he gets inside on them.
Whoever wins the bout will have their pick of opponents after that, with the best path to a monumental payday coming in the form of a challenge to the current star of the division, Anthony Joshua.
If Ortiz does pull off the win, he will likely face further scrutiny and criticism fighting so shortly after his failed drug test. He had also previously failed a test in 2014, per ESPN's Dan Rafael, so an upset could lead to plenty of cries of foul play from Wilder's camp.