The time has finally arrived for WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KO) to defend his title against Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KO).
The two men agreed to fight in 2017, but Ortiz failed a drug test and the fight had to be postponed. With both men having weighed in successfully, the championship fight is official. Here are the latest odds, per Bovada (h/t OddsShark).
Deontay Wilder -325 Luis Ortiz +225
Without a question, Ortiz represents the stiffest test of Wilder’s career. The undefeated Cuban has heavy hands. He’s a better than average athlete and seemingly hungry as he attempts to win his first legitimate world title. Wilder is still the sizable favorite, but there are more than a few who think Ortiz has a chance to pull the upset.
Count Forbes’ own Peter Kahn in that number.
Kahn doesn’t believe Wilder will stop Ortiz. In fact, “the only question mark in mind on Saturday night will be if Ortiz can take Wilder’s big punch,” wrote Kahn. “If he can navigate through the bombs that Wilder will undoubtedly be hurling his way, Ortiz has a strong probability of leaving New York as the new WBC heavyweight champion.”
That’s a strong opinion, but it’s not one that is shared by most fighters. In fact, Forbes’ Josh Katzowitz. Every fighter Katzowitz quoted, Anthony Joshua, David Haye, Ashley Theophane, Shannon Briggs and Dillian Whyte all believe Wilder will retain his title.
While I acknowledge Ortiz is a serious threat to Wilder, I believe the soon-to-be 39-year-old will have some issues navigating the champion’s length. I also expect Wilder to be the fresher fighter if it lasts longer than five rounds and that’s when his jab could become an even bigger weapon.
Expect a calmer, more calculated version of Wilder than the one we saw run roughshod over Bermane Stiverne in his last fight. I’ll take Wilder via seventh-round TKO.
