Can This Fight Determine if Deontay Wilder is LEGIT?

[closer]

Wilder deserves full credit for this, but he really did need to fight a big name. Ortiz is a harder fight than Parker, who has been dreadful. This is a better fight than AJ v Parker.

As for the fight, i think Wilder is going to struggle a lot. I can't see this being a fast blowout like many predict. Ortiz is tough, too experienced for that, and Wilder is so raw it hurts the eyes.

[candyslim]

Ok we don't know how good Ortiz is at this point. I rate him very highly based on his stats as an amateur and on the eye test. Against a capable, if a little small, Bryant Jennings who had come to win, Ortiz looked to be the full package. Very skilled, very calm and composed, effortlessly effective.

He looked laboured against Malik Scott as Scott almost literally ran to escape him, but as I seem to recall wasn't Scott down for a ten count early in the fight? He did the old classic of getting up just in time to (not) beat the count, preparing to protest at the ref that he'd beaten the count, only the ref saw what was about to unfold and instead told him to continue The Dave Allen fight won Ortiz no new admirers which may be because Dave offered little but heart and toughness, and Ortiz treated it as a workout, or maybe it was because age is catching up with him.

Be that as it may, the only fighter out there who beating would unequivocally earn Deontay more respect is Joshua, so let's give Wilder some credit. People that have justifiably criticised his record like myself are now getting exactly what they asked for. It should have happened sooner but that cannot be helped now. Let's just be grateful that the fight seems to be still on despite the fears about Ortiz's hand.

I refuse to criticise Wilder even if Ortiz were to fold like a house of cards because he will have done exactly what I've been calling for him to do.

[closer]

as I seem to recall wasn't Scott down for a ten count early in the fight? He did the old classic of getting up just in time to (not) beat the count, preparing to protest at the ref that he'd beaten the count, only the ref saw what was about to unfold and instead told him to continue

He was looking for a way out throughout the fight, and was exposed badly and embarrassingly. What really gets on my nerves was his IFL interview the day before, he seemed like a real cool guy that was coming to give a go with all this good talk... just to perform the way he did . It was Skelton Sprott level of bad.

Someone who was defending him on social media said that the boxing fans just don't appreciate good movers! and he liked the comment!

Sorry for going off-topic lol.

[Badhusker]

I hope it is a good fight, with a clear winner with no excuses. Maybe we will learn why Joshua/Hearn never wanted to fight Ortiz when they had the chance? Ortiz is getting old, but still 2-3 years younger than Wlad when he fought Joshua.

[caldo2025]

Well considering everyone who despises Wilder claims that Ortiz is really well into his 40s if not older (although they fail to provide a birth certificate as evidence) and now the Cuban is hiding/flaunting a bump on his hand, (a transparent effort to prepare a post-fight excuse) I doubt anything will be proven.

At least to the critics.

If Wilder loses, it's "I told you he was garbage."

And if Wilder is victorious, they'll simply say "It means nothing. Ortiz was a one handed, senior citizen. When's Wilder going to fight a legitimate opponent?"

But in the end opinions mean nothing. If you get the job done, that's what counts.

No matter what you accomplish, you can always be counting on critics to criticizize.

Wilder's more interested in counting his money.

Well said, Senor. Some fighters just can't win until they do something heroic that can't be argued against. Heck, GGG still doesn't get what he's due in my opinion because he's got a steady line of people that can't be convinced no matter how many great performances he had in a row against the top shelf opposition.

What interests me most in this fight is that it's clearly a prime test of Athleticism vs. Technique. Wilder has crazy athletic ability and though Breland is making him a more responsible fighter in the ring, his punches are often loopy and unpolished. A cuban purist like Ortiz SHOULD pick an opponent like this apart but we just have to see what happens when we stir this drink and see what floats at the top. Sometimes, athleticism is the most powerful gift. It just may be here.

[caldo2025]

For me this is it indeed, if Wilder beats Ortiz in a fair way, then he's the genuine rank 3 of the world below AJ and Tyson Fury, But no longer below Povetkin. Also, he earned a fight against either Tyson Fury or AJ. The other way around, if Ortiz wins, then Ortiz earned this spot.
I still think Ortiz can and will win if the fight happens fair and I still think Wilder will receive more punches in this match as in the entire rest of his entire carreer yet.
Ortiz might be very old and injured on top of it, but I think he's still better as Wilder.

I sadly have to say, that I still don't expect this fight to actually happen, Wilder usually got an excuse to avoid a fight and fact that Ortiz has already been tested 7 times about a week ago sounds to me like Wilder and his team are doing everything they can to avoid the fight. Even if they step into the ring, I still expect something very controversial to happen and even if Ortiz wins fair and square, I still expect it to change into a no contest over time. Wilder has always been massively overprotected, Wilder could have fought Dillian Whyte ( a much worser boxer in my opinion) for 5 mil, but still chose to fight Ortiz for 2 mil, why? I can only imagine conspiracy theories.

You've now got me thinking man. You may be correct in this one. I can see a punch landing at the bell or a little after it and Wilder winning on some bogus call like that. If that happens then Wilder will deserve all of this negativity.

[SenorPipino]

His 32, 10 years in and fought no one. Fighting a 79 year old man proves nothing. AJ has unified titles in less than half that time

So Wilder fights no one (except for this 79 year old man tomorrow) and you criticize.

Joshua beats the dreaded paper champ Charles Martin and the ancient, inactive, end of the line Klitschko to unify some alphabet titles and you're ecstatic over his accomplishment.

Does not compute.

[candyslim]

as I seem to recall wasn't Scott down for a ten count early in the fight? He did the old classic of getting up just in time to (not) beat the count, preparing to protest at the ref that he'd beaten the count, only the ref saw what was about to unfold and instead told him to continue

He was looking for a way out throughout the fight, and was exposed badly and embarrassingly. What really gets on my nerves was his IFL interview the day before, he seemed like a real cool guy that was coming to give a go with all this good talk... just to perform the way he did . It was Skelton Sprott level of bad.

Someone who was defending him on social media said that the boxing fans just don't appreciate good movers! and he liked the comment!

Sorry for going off-topic lol.

I agree entirely mind you I wouldn't argue that Scott has outstanding mobility. He can run backwards faster than I can going forward

[candyslim]

I hope it is a good fight, with a clear winner with no excuses. Maybe we will learn why Joshua/Hearn never wanted to fight Ortiz when they had the chance? Ortiz is getting old, but still 2-3 years younger than Wlad when he fought Joshua.

Oh BH I keep telling you why but you never challenge what I say about it, yet you keep on with this same tired old carping at every opportunity.

Yet again: Joshua was IBF champion long before the WBA climbed on his bandwagon. His obligation maybe even his loyalty, was to the IBF and given their track record of stripping the disobedient, there were several reasons to take Pulev before Ortiz and if one of those reasons was that Pulev was seen as an easier fight, what's wrong with that? He's a young champion with 19* fights yet you are basically expecting him to fight Klitschko, Ortiz, and Wilder in consecutive fights. That is not a reasonable demand to make of any boxer. As it is Klitschko, Pulev**, and Parker is none too shabby is it, I can't understand your hatred for him.

Also Ortiz was Joshua's mandatory WBA challenger and Joshua would have fought him instead of Parker this very month had it not been that Ortiz (maybe read Haymon) decided Ortiz would give up his WBA mandatory status in order to fight Wilder for his WBC title.

BH I challenge you to explain what is incorrect about what I said or alternatively desist from attacking Joshua for not fighting Ortiz. I have better things to do with my time than defend Joshua every time you trot out the same libellous bollocks about him.

*19 fights at the time
** subbed by Takam of course.

[Mexi-Box]

Wilder deserves full credit for this, but he really did need to fight a big name. Ortiz is a harder fight than Parker, who has been dreadful. This is a better fight than AJ v Parker.

As for the fight, i think Wilder is going to struggle a lot. I can't see this being a fast blowout like many predict. Ortiz is tough, too experienced for that, and Wilder is so raw it hurts the eyes.

Ortiz has looked even worse against even worse opponents.

[marvelous marv]

Deontay just needs to keep fighting the best opponents available and the rest will settle itself out.

[HellraiserBoxing]

If Wilder beats a fit, 10/10!Ortiz I think crazy to not give him his due! Here's my analysis. https://youtu.be/5Xc6pCRr3y0

[jamesmcdonnell]

Deontay just needs to keep fighting the best opponents available and the rest will settle itself out.

He needs to START fighting the best opponents available.

Ortiz is far and away his best fight thus far, how long has he been a world title holder?

[candyslim]

I very much enjoyed your comprehensive and even-handed analysis Micky, you have a new subscriber.

If I was to offer any criticism at all, it would be I noticed that a couple of times you went off at a tangent mid-sentence to expand on a point you had made (about GW for example) and some may have struggled to keep up as you returned to the "parent-point" so to speak. This is born of enthusiasm and desire to convey all the facts of course.

[pablothunder]

Deontay just needs to keep fighting the best opponents available and the rest will settle itself out.

He needs to START fighting the best opponents available.

Ortiz is far and away his best fight thus far, how long has he been a world title holder?

That's the whole thing with Wilder, the talk of being top of the tree yet having questionable listr of opponents to justify the hype. Having a slow build up record isn't a terrible thing in my eyes but the hype has been draining.

I'm looking forward to the fight, we'll learn something about one or both of them. At least he's stepped it up and going backwards from a win would be too painful. Its overdue but, at last he's moving in the right direction.

[SenorPipino]

Some of you guys talk like the heavyweight division is loaded with overwhelming talent.

How many current heavyweights are going to be remembered in 10 years? Very few.

If Wilder fights and beats the Arreolas, Stivernes, Washington's, and Duhaupus,' then that's because that's who's out there. For better or for worse.

Taking on Whyte, Chisora, Povetkin or Breazeale isn't exactly tackling a murder's row of heavyweight greats either.

You can only fight who's out there. If what's out there isn't very special, then I suppose you'll always get criticized for just beating bums.

Fans have been demanding a Wilder-Ortiz fight for a long time, claiming that the Cuban is Wilder's first legit threat.

After tonight, these same fans will probably begin referring to Ortiz as just another bum.

[Badhusker]

I think Ortiz is better than most think, and will come to fight. His counter-punching ability and power are real. The fight is Wilder's if he fights smart though. Ortiz has been avoided by most top heavyweights until recently. Parker, AJ, Wilder all could have fought Ortiz before now, but passed on it. There must be a reason why.
If Wilder wins, Ortiz will be old and washed up. If Ortiz wins, it will be Wilder was over-rated. Also, if Ortiz wins, Joshua will fight one or two mandatories like Povetkin and whoever else to age Ortiz some more.

I just hope for a good fight with a clear winner, and the winner fights the winner of AJ/Parker.

[candyslim]

I see you're already back talking more crap about Joshua ducking Ortiz.

Did you miss where I challenged you (seven posts back) to either pack it in, or point out where what I said in his defense was incorrect or, are you just ducking?

[fanman]

just looking at the ring mag rankings.
wilder v ortiz is #2 v #5
joshua v parker is #1 v #3
i think taking away all the alphabet joke rankings, this is a fair description.

so we really have a lot to be excited about in that 4/5 of the top heavies will be colliding. and there may be question marks, but really there is not much else in the heavy division.
so of course, this fight should make deontay legit. stiverne wasnt a bad win either when deontay won the belt.

looking at ortiz's lack of speed, potential aging and deontay's athleticism i'd have to favour the younger man.
we know wilder gets sloppy and lacks that rich amateur background that ortiz himself has. also wilders skinny build and open defence makes you wonder if he can be 'exposed' by a good, solid pro.
we shall see, it should be a good fight!

[Best Coast]

It all depends on how much you hate him.

Good one & VERY accurate. There are LOTS of Wilder-haters in this forum.

Any honest, rational boxing fan has to admit that Ortiz is easily the best HW that Wilder has faced so far. The Cuban is also the best current HW not named Joshua or Povetkin. I'd put him on a par with Parker or slightly above him. BoxRec ratings are pretty accurate on today's HWs right now:

http://boxrec.com/en/ratings?sex=M&divi ... t&offset=0

My only disagreement is that Parker (#7) should switch places with Bellew (#5)

[candyslim]

I'm sorry but Tony Bellew has no business appearing in anyone's top ten, and that's coming from a fellow Brit who actually quite likes and respects him.

[funso banjo baby]

Wilder is a one punch merchant.

Can his one right hand defeat AJ who has everything?

I don't think so

[candyslim]

As to the original question, I think it just did.

If Wilder destroyed him in round one much as he did Stiverne, I'd have said it proves nothing (maybe about Ortiz but not Wilder). You can point to Ortiz's age same as with Wlad, but there's no denying these old guys both really took some beating.

Well done Deontay you have proved to doubters, like me, that you are a proper champion.

[jamesmcdonnell]

Well, looks like Wilder is for real.

He still has glaring holes in his game, but he can recover from serious adversity, and carries his power late.

Still make Joshua favourite, but the longer it goes, the better Wlders chances are. Wilder clearly has the better stamina of the two and could see him outlasting and battering Joshua late doors.

[geronimo]

All credits to Wilder for this victory. Now is the second best heavyweight After Joshua.