Someone's "0" has to go on Saturday in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KO) will attempt to defend his crown and remain unbeaten against Cuban knockout artist Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KO).
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (L) poses next to undefeated contender Luis King Kong Ortiz during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2,2018 before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
The bout will be broadcast live on Showtime beginning at 9 pm ET. There are at least 10 things that you should know about Saturday's event.
Televised Undercard
IBF Interim Super Middleweight Title - Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui II
This is a rematch of one of the most controversial fights of 2017.
Dirrell won the first bout via disqualification when Uzcategui hit him after the bell. Infamously, Dirrell's uncle Leon Lawson Jr. entered the ring and assaulted Uzcategui. He was temporarily a fugitive before turning himself into the police. Ultimately, the charges were dropped, but there's definitely an extra layer of drama around this fight.
Tale of the Tape
Wilder Category Ortiz
32 age 38
orthodox stance southpaw
6′ 7″ / 201cm height 6′ 4″ / 193cm
83″ / 211cm reach 84″ / 213cm
39 won 28
0 lost 0
0 drawn 0
38 KOs 24
Weigh-In Results
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KO) holds his arms up after he steps on the scale during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2, 2018, before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Wilder weighed in at just 214 3/4 pounds, which is the lightest he's been since the first two fights of his professional career back in 2009. Ortiz was just over 241 pounds, which is consistent with where he's been over his past five fights. Is it good for Wilder to be at his lightest weight this late in his career against a physically strong opponent like Ortiz?
Undefeated contender Luis King Kong Ortiz (28-0, 24 KO) holds his arms up after he steps on the scale during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2, 2018, before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
It could go either way. It's likely Wilder wants to maximize what should be a speed and stamina advantage by maintaining leaner muscle.
The Previous Issues With Failed Drug Tests
This fight was scheduled to take place in November 2017, but Ortiz failed a pre-fight drug test and he was replaced by Bermane Stiverne. This was the second time Ortiz had tested positive for banned substances. This time, Ortiz has come through the testing process clean up to this point and the fight is on.
Common Opponents
Cuba's Luis Ortiz (R) fights with US Malik Scott during the WBA Intercontinental heavyweight fight in Monte Carlo on November 12, 2016. Ortiz defeated Scott with a unanimous decision. / AFP / Yann COATSALIOU (Photo credit should read YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images)
The two men have two common opponents. Ortiz fought Joseph Rabotte in July 2013. He scored what was originally deemed a third-round KO victory, but the result was later changed to a no contest because Rabotte fell out of the ring and was unable to continue.
Wilder smashed his way through the journeyman heavyweight in the first round of a 2009 meeting at UIC Pavillion in Chicago.
Wilder took on friend and former contender Malik Scott in March 2014. That fight also ended in a first-round KO win for Wilder. Ortiz fought Scott in November 2016. Though he dropped Scott three times, Ortiz had to settle for a unanimous-decision victory. Scott is one of four opponents to have gone the distance with Ortiz.
Only Stiverne (in their first fight) has ever avoided a stoppage loss against Wilder.
Someone's "0" has to go on Saturday in Brooklyn at the Barclays Center. Undefeated WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KO) will attempt to defend his crown and remain unbeaten against Cuban knockout artist Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KO).
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (L) poses next to undefeated contender Luis King Kong Ortiz during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2,2018 before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
The bout will be broadcast live on Showtime beginning at 9 pm ET. There are at least 10 things that you should know about Saturday's event.
Televised Undercard
IBF Interim Super Middleweight Title - Andre Dirrell vs. Jose Uzcategui II
This is a rematch of one of the most controversial fights of 2017.
Dirrell won the first bout via disqualification when Uzcategui hit him after the bell. Infamously, Dirrell's uncle Leon Lawson Jr. entered the ring and assaulted Uzcategui. He was temporarily a fugitive before turning himself into the police. Ultimately, the charges were dropped, but there's definitely an extra layer of drama around this fight.
Tale of the Tape
Wilder Category Ortiz
32 age 38
orthodox stance southpaw
6′ 7″ / 201cm height 6′ 4″ / 193cm
83″ / 211cm reach 84″ / 213cm
39 won 28
0 lost 0
0 drawn 0
38 KOs 24
Weigh-In Results
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KO) holds his arms up after he steps on the scale during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2, 2018, before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
Wilder weighed in at just 214 3/4 pounds, which is the lightest he's been since the first two fights of his professional career back in 2009. Ortiz was just over 241 pounds, which is consistent with where he's been over his past five fights. Is it good for Wilder to be at his lightest weight this late in his career against a physically strong opponent like Ortiz?
Undefeated contender Luis King Kong Ortiz (28-0, 24 KO) holds his arms up after he steps on the scale during the official weigh-in at Barclays Center March 2, 2018, before they face off Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York. / AFP PHOTO / TIMOTHY A. CLARY (Photo credit should read TIMOTHY A. CLARY/AFP/Getty Images)
It could go either way. It's likely Wilder wants to maximize what should be a speed and stamina advantage by maintaining leaner muscle.
The Previous Issues With Failed Drug Tests
This fight was scheduled to take place in November 2017, but Ortiz failed a pre-fight drug test and he was replaced by Bermane Stiverne. This was the second time Ortiz had tested positive for banned substances. This time, Ortiz has come through the testing process clean up to this point and the fight is on.
Common Opponents
Cuba's Luis Ortiz (R) fights with US Malik Scott during the WBA Intercontinental heavyweight fight in Monte Carlo on November 12, 2016. Ortiz defeated Scott with a unanimous decision. / AFP / Yann COATSALIOU (Photo credit should read YANN COATSALIOU/AFP/Getty Images)
The two men have two common opponents. Ortiz fought Joseph Rabotte in July 2013. He scored what was originally deemed a third-round KO victory, but the result was later changed to a no contest because Rabotte fell out of the ring and was unable to continue.
Wilder smashed his way through the journeyman heavyweight in the first round of a 2009 meeting at UIC Pavillion in Chicago.
Wilder took on friend and former contender Malik Scott in March 2014. That fight also ended in a first-round KO win for Wilder. Ortiz fought Scott in November 2016. Though he dropped Scott three times, Ortiz had to settle for a unanimous-decision victory. Scott is one of four opponents to have gone the distance with Ortiz.
Only Stiverne (in their first fight) has ever avoided a stoppage loss against Wilder.
