Wilder vs Ortiz – This Saturday night sees Showtime Boxing give us WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder vs Luis Ortiz from the Barclays Center in Brooklyn. For Wilder (39-0) the undefeated Cuban Ortiz (28-0) represents his biggest challenge to date.
Wilder is going to be the favorite heading into Saturday’s fight, but Ortiz will have his backers. Ortiz has a long amateur background on top of his 28 pro wins, so he has the experience needed. Wilder has scored 38 knock outs, and he has knocked out every man he has ever faced after he “got” Bermane Stiverne in their rematch in his last outing. That first round knock out by Wilder sent the WBC beltholder’s “hype meter” through the roof. Wilder is positioning himself for a showdown with WBA and IBF world champion Anthony Joshua. Wilder could own the WBO version of the world title by the end of March if he beats titlist Joseph Parker on the 31st in England. The Wilder vs Joshua showdown is being talked about as the biggest heavyweight fight in at least two decades, so Wilder fights Saturday knowing he needs a big showing.
What version of Ortiz will show up? Ortiz should be hungry as he has toiled in the world of boxing his entire life and the world title means a life changing pay day.
But Wilder’s last opponent, Bermane Stiverne had every reason to be hungry. Wilder took the WBC belt from him over twelve rounds, so he was the only man who took Wilder the distance. Stiverne did and said all the right things right up until fight day. But as he came out to the ring, Stiverne already looked like a beaten man. His body language was all wrong and once the bell rang he had nothing.
Like Stiverne, Ortiz is almost certainly going to have to deal with Wilder coming out fast in round one. If Ortiz does not get hit with the same “cold feet” that Stiverne got and survives, his best bet is to settle down and outbox Wilder. But that means he has to be ready to go twelve rounds without getting knocked out.
Do not sleep on the super middleweight co-feature between Andre Dirrell and Jose Uzcategui. The fight is a rematch and the first fight was one of the more controversial fights of the last few years. Dirrell entered the first fight favored but Uzcategui was considered to be on his way to winning when he dropped Dirrell after the bell to end the eighth round. Dirrell’s corner then attacked Uzcategui resulting in a chaotic situation around the ring. The rematch was talked about almost immediately and now that it is here it is Uzcategui who is entering as the favorite.
Promoter Lou DiBella has a huge 12 fight card planned for Brooklyn this Saturday night. Below are the odds for four of the feature fights expected on the Showtime broadcast. Check your sports books closer to fight time for changes and more fights.
Sat 3/3 – Wilder vs Ortiz – Barclays Center – Brooklyn, New York – Showtime
Heavyweight 12 rounds –
Luis Ortiz +245 o9½ +130
Deontay Wilder -290 u9½ -150
Super Middleweight 12 rounds –
Andre Dirrell +165
Jose Uzcategui -205
Middleweight 12 rounds –
Hugo Centeno Jr +1200
Jermall Charlo -2250
Middleweight 8 rounds –
Dashon Johnson +2800
Sergiy Derevyanchenko -7000
Wilder vs Ortiz / Check out more boxing news and features at The Sweet Science. Youcan also check out “Rating Deontay Wilder TnS Boxing Podcast #38” for a more in depth look at WBC world champion Deontay Wilder.
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