Victorious Saturday- Victor Ortiz wants Wilder rematch

After his impressive win Saturday night at Barclays Center in Brooklyn New York on the undercard of Lara – Castano, Cuban heavyweight Luis Ortiz made the expected plea for his next fight.

Ortiz, who pushed WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder to the limit in their first meeting almost a year ago to the day of his Saturday night win, wants the champ, again. The real question is: will he get that opportunity anytime soon?

First and as expected, Ortiz dominated German Christian Hammer in a 10-round unanimous decision effort. Although Hammer landed some big punches in the first couple of rounds of the fight, he took way more than he gave as the battle war on.

Ortiz was in complete control by the time the fight entered the final couple of rounds and coasted to a unanimous decision win of 100 – 90 on one scorecard and 99 – 91 on the other two judges cards.

And after the fight and through his interpreter, he told Showtime’s Jim Gray that he believes another crack at Wilder should be in his future:

"@anthonyfjoshua and @BronzeBomber, I'm ready!" – @kingkongboxing #OrtizHammer pic.twitter.com/IhJnFdcYZC

— SHOWTIME Boxing (@ShowtimeBoxing) March 3, 2019

However, it’s not that simple.

Wilder has been trying to finalize a rematch with Tyson Fury for May 18th at the Barclays Center,. And now that’s in serious doubt, as Fury signed a multi-fight deal with competing promoter Bob Arum, his  Top Rank and ESPN two weeks ago.

As we wrote last week, Arum has also made the aggressive negotiating move to offer Wilder, who is currently a free agent in terms of promoter and TV network of choice. It’s the same type of multi-fight deal he gave Fury to come with him. And that would include the opportunity to fight Fury this fall, after both fighters fight someone else in the early summer to build up their rematch.

Noted boxing writer and Insider Keith Idec of boxingscene.com wrote on Friday that Wilder apparently is going to fight WBC #1 Contender Dominic Breazeale instead on that same date in Brooklyn. Breazeale is 20 – 1 with 18 knockouts and a fresh young threat that Wilder has not fought, yet.

And, in those ways, he differs from almost 40 year old Ortiz, as a marketable future opponent.

Idec further wrote that the plan, as he understands it, is for Wilder to also fight Adam Kownacki of Poland later this year, as well. Konwacki, who has a huge following in New York, is 19 – 0 with 15 Knockouts himself.

So it would appear, that Ortiz will have to wait in line to get another crack at the “Bronze Bomber.”

Depending on Ortiz’s contract status with Haymon Boxing and Premier Boxing Champions, he might be in position to fight Fury himself. That is, if Arum and Top-rank would be interested in that fight later this summer? However, at the moment, that’s an unknown and possibly going to be forbidden, contractually by Al Haymon.

And, the final variable is: what is most sellable to the public?

Had Ortiz destroyed Hammer early in the fight Saturday night, he would have had a stronger argument for the rematch. This is especially, when he had rocked Wilder and almost put him down last March only to have Wilder rally and stop him in the 10th round.

Alas, that spectacular win didn’t happen Saturday, and so, Ortiz may be waiting for a while for if, and when, he ever gets another crack at the Champ.