Philippines, 04 Jul 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


DEONTAY WILDER RETAINS WBC HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE WITH THRILLING 10TH ROUND TECHNICAL KNOCKOUT OF LUIS ORTIZ (PHOTOS)

PhilBoxing.com





Jose Uzcategui Stops Andre Dirrell to Become Interim IBF Super Middleweight World Champion in SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING? Co-Feature

Don?t Miss The Replay Monday at 10 p.m. ET/PT On SHOWTIME EXTREME

BROOKLYN (March 4, 2018) ? Undefeated heavyweight world champion Deontay ?The Bronze Bomber? Wilder retained his WBC title in his seventh defense with a tenth round knockout over unbeaten challenger Luis ?The Real King Kong? Ortiz in a thrilling back-and-forth SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING main event Saturday night from Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING?.

Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) not only survived the toughest test of his career but also finished the job in spectacular fashion by unleashing a ferocious 10th round assault on Ortiz (28-1, 24 KOs). Wilder floored the Cuban challenger twice in the round, forcing referee David Fields to stop the fight at 2:05 of the round. Watch the knockout video HERE.

Oritz looked like he would dethrone Wilder in the seventh round, countering with a strong right hand that hurt the WBC heavyweight champion. Ortiz unleashed a barrage of punches against a stunned Wilder, who somehow managed to stay on his feet to close the round before being saved by the bell. Ortiz continued his assault on Wilder into the eighth round, who again managed to make it through the round.





In the ninth round, Wilder began to rebound as he knocked Ortiz off-balance with a straight right hand. America?s only reigning heavyweight champion was firmly back in the fight as he landed a strong combination on Ortiz to close the round, completely changing the momentum of the fight.

Both fighters came out strong at the start of the tenth round, landing simultaneous blows that made each fighter temporarily wobbly. But it was Wilder who capitalized on the moment, as the Alabama-native pounced on Ortiz, sending his opponent to the canvas for the second time of the night with a flurry of overhand right hands. A dazed Ortiz returned to his feet, but was unable to withstand a follow-up assault from a confident Wilder, who landed an uppercut that sent Ortiz to the canvas for the third and final time.

Following his third successful title defense at Barclays Center, an emotional Wilder spoke to SHOWTIME Sports reporter Jim Gray about the most difficult fight of his career.



?A true champion always finds a way to come back and that?s what I did tonight,? said Wilder. ?Luis Ortiz is definitely a crafty guy. He put up a great fight. We knew we had to wear him down. I showed everyone I can take a punch.

?He was hitting me with those furious punches but they didn?t have sting on them. He was throwing combos that knocked me off balance. I just had to get my range back and my fundamentals back. And I was able to do that. I showed I was a true champion tonight.?

A proud but disappointed Ortiz, who was on the brink of a sensational seventh round stoppage of Wilder before the bell rang, also spoke to Gray following the fight.

?It was a great fight and I performed well,? Ortiz said. ?I thought I was up on the scorecard going into the tenth round, but it?s heavyweight boxing and you never know what?s going to happen.

?I almost had him and I think I would?ve if there were a few more seconds in the round.?

Wilder out landed Ortiz 98-87, although Ortiz held a slight advantage in landed power punches, 63-60.



In the co-featured event of SHOWTIME CHAMPIONSHIP BOXING, Jose Uzcategui (27-2, 23 KOs) defeated Andre Dirrell (26-3, 16 KOs) via TKO two seconds into round nine, upon the request of Dirrell?s trainer, Virgil Hunter. The win, which makes Uzcategui the interim IBF Super Middleweight World Champion, puts the hard-hitting Venezuelan in position to fight for the super middleweight title that Caleb Truax earned via a majority decision over James DeGale in December.

Saturday night?s fight was a rematch of the hotly contested May 2017 bout, in which Uzcategui was disqualified for landing a punch after the bell sounded to end the eighth round. In the rematch, Uzcategui dominated the action from start to finish, using his powerful right hand to set the stage for the withering assault which led to Dirrell?s corner stopping the fight two seconds into round nine. Uzcategui out landed Dirrell 169-141 in total punches, including a huge 112-51 discrepancy in power punches landed.

?I was a little surprised they stopped it in the ninth,? said Uzcategui. ?I had said it would be the third round that I would knock him out. It took a little longer, but it finally came.

?I think it was very clear in the first fight that I did my job. In the second fight I showed even more, so there?s going to be a lot of Uzcategui from now on.?

Dirrell, a native of Flint, Michigan, found Uzcategui?s length and aggression difficult to deal with.

?I've been in there with long fighters before, but he was especially long,? said Dirrell. ?I think I was a little heavier than I wanted to be tonight, but that's no excuse. Uzcategui did a great job.

"We knew we needed a knockout. The way it was going I needed to at least pick it up. I felt a little sluggish and he hit all the right shots. None of them really hurt, but he hit me where he was supposed to.?

In a world title fight featured on the undercard, Long Island's Alicia Napoleon (9-1, 5 KOs) won the Vacant Women's WBA Super Middleweight world title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over Femke Hermans (6-1, 3 KOs).

?It's hard to find words to describe this right now," said Napoleon. "It's so surreal it's almost like a dream. I'm just glad I did it. This is one down, but there's many more to go. The goal is to get all the belts.?

Napoleon controlled the action with her power and superior athletic prowess and wobbled Hermans in the final round before earning the decision by scores of 99-91 and 98-92 twice.

?I think this means a lot for women's boxing, not just that I won the belt, but where I was placed on this great card," said Napoleon. "People are going to continue to see and hear more and more from women boxers.?

Saturday?s telecast will replay on, Sunday, March 4 at 8 a.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME and Monday, March 5 at 10 p.m. ET/PT on SHOWTIME EXTREME and will be available on SHOWTIME ON DEMAND? and SHOWTIME ANYTIME?. This event was sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina and promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions.

# # #

For more information visit www.sho.com/sports , www.premierboxingchampions.com, follow us on Twitter @ShowtimeBoxing, @PremierBoxing, @LouDiBella, @TGBPromotions, @BarclaysCenter, @Brooklyn_Boxing and @Swanson_Comm or become a fan on Facebook at www.Facebook.com/SHOBoxing, www.Facebook.com/barclayscenter, and www.Facebook.com/DiBellaEntertainment. PBC is sponsored by Corona Extra, La Cerveza Mas Fina.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • The Queens of Philippine Boxing are Training in Cebu
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Raising the Game: Jean Henri Lhuillier’s Unmatched Impact on Philippine Tennis
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • GM Eugene Torre to grace the Asenso Ozamis Open Chess Tournament
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • The Second Rise of Jesse Espinas
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Golden Age Comparison - Philippines and Japan
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kittipong, Magdalena, Kim, Kritiphak Claim Wins in Brico Santig's Show in Bangkok
    By Carlos Costa, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Kremlev, Crawford, Fury Launch IBA's Golden Era of International Boxing
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • International Master Angelo Young stays on course for GM norm
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Robby Gonzales and Yoseline Perez Progress to Semifinals at World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Fri, 04 Jul 2025
  • Fireworks Ahead: Magsayo vs Mata in Prelims of Pacquiao vs Barrios
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Japan's Boxing Golden Age Remains Limited to the Lower Weights
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • No issues with fight ref
    By Joaquin Henson, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaimàn: Grand Muay Thai event in Verona
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • Morelle McCane and Rene Camacho Advance to Quarterfinals of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • 3 Division World Champion & Hall of Famer Marco Antonio Barrera Confirmed for Eighth Annual Box Fan Expo, During Mexican Independence Day Weekend, Saturday September 13, in Las Vegas
    , Thu, 03 Jul 2025
  • ESPN Original Series The Fight Life Returns for Season Two on July 7
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • TOP-RATED LIGHTWEIGHT KO ARTIST ARMANDO MARTINEZ RABI RETURNS
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Amazing Muay Thai WBC Festival 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Borromeo Leads Winners of the Philippine Speedcubing Championships
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • What If Pacquiao Defeats Barrios?
    By Ralph Rimpell, , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Team USA Earns Three Wins on Day Two of World Boxing Cup: Astana 2025
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Women's Boxing Champion Signs with Combate Global, Still Aims For WBC Absolute Gold
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Sanman Boxing Presents Hard-Hitting Prospect Abubakar Yanon Set to Challenge for Philippine Boxing Federation Flyweight Title in Malungon, Sarangani Province
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • Boxing Returns to Tropicana Atlantic City, July 25
    , Wed, 02 Jul 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 30 June 2025: Zurdo Outpoints Dorticos, Keeps WBA/WBO Cruiser Titles; Mbilli Stops Sulecki in 1; Wins by Kuroki, Wilder and Jake Paul
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 01 Jul 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.