Wilder vs Ortiz: Anthony Joshua rival Deontay Wilder defends WBC title against Luis Ortiz, live on Sky Sports
Wednesday 27 September 2017 15:53, UK
Deontay Wilder's world heavyweight title defence against Luis Ortiz will be shown live on Sky Sports.
The 'Bronze Bomber' puts his WBC strap on the line against the unbeaten Cuban at the Barclays Center, Brooklyn, in the early hours of Sunday, November 5.
Both are unbeaten with ominous knockout ratios - Wilder 97 per cent, Ortiz 79 per cent - with the showdown coming a week after rival Anthony Joshua's latest world title defence against Kubrat Pulev.
This is the first step towards unifying. Any heavyweight that gets in my way is getting knocked out.
I'm tired of hearing it. I'm not that big on talking. I like to do all my talking in the ring and that's what I plan to do.
This night of heavyweight action is part of a packed Sky Sports schedule as WBC champion Jermell Charlo faces Erickson Lubin on a New York card featuring three world title fights on October 14, then we switch to California later that night to see Leo Santa Cruz defend his WBA title against Chris Avalos, with potential opponent Abner Mares on the same bill.
Wilder has already stated he wants a unification fight in 2018 once he has got past 'King Kong' Ortiz, in what will be the sixth defence of the coveted WBC strap he won back in January 2015.
"Ortiz is considered the boogeyman of the sport and I am the hardest hitter in boxing," he said.
"When you put us together in a ring, you will get one of the best heavyweight fights in a long time.
"I will unify the division. This I promise. This is the first step towards unifying. Any heavyweight that gets in my way is getting knocked out.''
Ortiz was initially the WBA No 1 challenger to take on Joshua, only for the Cuban to switch to the WBC where he is considered by many as Wilder's toughest test to date.
'King Kong' had two fights under the Matchroom stable, stopping David Allen in November 2012 and being taken 12 rounds for the first time by Malik Scott, in Monaco, a month earlier.
"I'm tired of hearing it. I'm not that big on talking. I like to do all my talking in the ring and that's what I plan to do.
"I respect him. I know he hits hard, but I hit hard too. It's going to be a great fight. I can't wait to get in the ring and shut him up in front of everybody on November 4.''
The undercard includes another big heavyweight fight, with Bermane Stiverne, the Haitian who Wilder took the WBC world title from and former Joshua foe Dominic Breazeale, while Kazakhstan's unbeaten Sergey Lipinets and Japan's Akihiro Kondo scrap it our for the IBF world title left vacant by Terence Crawford's move up.
"We're thrilled to be showing this huge heavyweight fight on Sky Sports, just a week after Joshua-Pulev," said Sky Sports' Head of Boxing, Adam Smith.
"Wilder is the WBC holder and is always exciting to watch and Ortiz is tricky and talented. Both are unbeaten, both are knockout artists, but will the 'Bronze Bomber' remain on course for the Joshua shoot-out?"
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