WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION Deontay Wilder has confirmed he will face Luis Ortiz in a rematch rather than set up a blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Wilder (41-0-1) has called for patience as fans demand a mouthwatering bout against WBA, IBF and WBO holder Joshua after needing just 137 seconds to knock out Dominic Breazeale earlier this month.
In the meantime, ferocious American Wilder is set for another Ortiz clash following the pair’s 2018 encounter, with the date and location yet to be announced.
Wilder beat Cuban boxer Ortiz (31-1) via a 10th-round knockout at Barclays Center in New York last year.
“To all my fans, I want to announce that Luis Ortiz and I have signed for a rematch, with the date and site to be announced shortly,” Wilder tweeted on Tuesday.
“All my controversial fights Must get dealt with ASAP #BombZquad.”
Wilder promised a highly anticipated fight with Joshua would happen after producing a devastating knockout to retain his WBC belt against Breazeale.
“The great thing about this is all these fights are in discussion, no doors are closed, all teams, all parties that are involved are talking and that’s the great thing about it,” Wilder told Showtime.
“We know when the big fights happen everything is going to be silenced. There’s too many people involved, too many opinions involved right now.
“It’s going to take my team and his team, maybe me and him as well, to sit down and hammer this and squash everything and get this fight done for the fans.”
Wilder added: “This fight will happen. The big fight will happen, I promise you that, with patience, come time, and I just want you guys to have patience and give us a little time to make this thing happen so we all benefit from it, not only just you fans.
“We risk our lives in here so we want to make sure we get the best and the most money that’s possible.
“We’re risking our lives. The head is not meant to be hit in the first place so let us get our time to iron out all the differences and you guys will know when that happens.”
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Dunno about anyone else but all this extreme confidence talk, and slight arrogance/expectancy of a guaranteed result is killing me. Sure, Wales got the rub of the green on more than a few occasions since Pivac took over, and probably haven’t played as attractively as they did under Gats – but write them off at your peril. Sure they’re blighted with injuries, but this stuff, and the likes of Rob Kearney saying he can see a comfortable win just plays into their hands – free motivation. Really would’ve expected better from people who know how cute Wales can be when in the long grass. WalesOnline spreading all this talk across the Irish sea too…
@Ultan Corcoran: spot on, wales never lose by much and area always a tough game. Can’t see this being more then 5 or 6 points either way
@Ultan Corcoran: You’re right. But this is lining up to be such a mismatch, if we cannot beat this Wales team by 10 to 15 minimum, then we aren’t where we thought we were at all.
@Dara: Yeah, feel the same way myself! No more than a score or converted try in it.
@Eoin Roche: I get what you’re saying but it’s a lot to beat a usually very consistent side by.. nonetheless I hope you’re right! Just Wales love nothing more than a big upset.
@Ultan Corcoran: totally agree with you. It’s very poor from ex internationals
@Dara: we beat them 32-9 the last time they came to Dublin. The time before that we beat them 24-14 and 7 of their points came in extra time. On the 80 it was 24-7. Both times Pivac and Farrell were in charge. Since then we’ve kicked on. I’m not sure they have.
If Wales have to play for 80 minutes against 15 players they’ve no chance.
@Paul Harvey: That’s a seemingly very big if!
@Scott Campbell: How?
@Paul Harvey: So you’re saying there’s a chance…
@Eoghan Quinn: yeah, if Murray starts Wales have an even better chance
@Scott Campbell: nah, Peyper is the ref. He has a scary disregard for player welfare.
1.Wyn Jones 2.Ryan Elias 3.Tomas Francis 4.Adam Beard 5.Will Rowlands 6.Ellis Jenkins 7.Taine Basham 8.Aaron Wainwright 9.Tomos Williams 10.Dan Biggar 11.Josh Adams’s 12.Nick Tompkins 13.Jonathan Davies 14.Louis Rees-Zammit 15.Liam Williams.
That’s still a very strong Welsh squad but the way our forwards are playing particularly the front row & backrow & Sexton on form I think we’ll come away with a win.
@Harry O’Callaghan: 16.Bradley Roberts 17.Rhys Carré 18.Leon Brown 19.Seb Davies 20.Ross Moriarty 21.Gareth Davies 22.Gareth Anscombe 23.Uilisi Halaholo.
Ireland bench: 16.Dan Sheehan 17.Cian Healy 18.Finlay Bealham 19.Ian Henderson 20.Peter O’Mahony 21.Conor Murray 22.Joey Carbery/Jack Carty 23.Keith Earls/Andrew Conway/Robert Baloucoune.
Much stronger Irish bench.
Wales were never going to win last time around.
Hopefully the OMG! reactions by the Referee/TMO Cabal that ruined last year’s 6 Nations have matured into keeping players on the pitch.
Good Luck to every team taking part. Thank God its not a Lions year and I can shout at the telly louder!
Why are Ireland such strong favorites? Because we are uniquely delusional supporters, especially before this most unpredictable of tournaments. Only Scots cousins are reliably dafter. Home advantage is huge, but we don’t know how either side will be on the (first) day. After France away, we will know more. Do we often both start and finish well in tournaments? Maybe really good years. I’d love a really good 2023 with RWC in there.