It was made, and almost occurred last year, but then fate interceded. Fate, in the form of a PED positive…
Here's hoping that everyone's urine is clear and we get the heavyweight face off which looks on paper to be the stiffest of Deontay Wilders' pro career…
Deontay Wilder, the WBC heavyweight champ, versus Cuban smasher Luis Ortiz, now allowed to glove up after being punished for having a diuretic in his system before he and Wilder were to collide last November.
March 3, in Brooklyn, and on Showtime. (Yes, HBO is also showing fights that night, as is ESPN. Get that DVR warmed up, and remember to tape a half hour over…)
Here is the release:
HEAVYWEIGHT WORLD CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER DEFENDS AGAINST UNDEFEATED CONTENDER LUIS ORTIZ SATURDAY, MARCH 3 FROM BARCLAYS CENTER
IN BROOKLYN & PRESENTED BY
PREMIER BOXING CHAMPIONS
Tickets on Sale Tuesday, January 16 at 10 A.M. ET
BROOKLYN (January 12, 2018) – Another blockbuster boxing event will come to Barclays Center, the home of BROOKLYN BOXING®, as unbeaten heavyweight world champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder defends his title against unbeaten contender Luis “The Real King Kong” Ortiz on Saturday, March 3 in an event presented by Premier Boxing Champions.
Wilder-Ortiz is a long-awaited matchup of undefeated, consensus top-five fighters facing off in the resurgent heavyweight division and marks Wilder's third appearance at Barclays Center.
Tickets for the show, which is promoted by DiBella Entertainment and TGB Promotions, start at $50 and go on sale
Tuesday, January 16 at 10 a.m. To purchase tickets, visit Ticketmaster.com, BarclaysCenter.com, or call
800-745-3000. Tickets for the event can also be purchased at the American Express Box Office at Barclays Center beginning
Wednesday, January 17 at noon.
“We are thrilled to welcome the heavyweight champ back to Barclays Center for his second-consecutive fight after a big first round knockout of Bermane Stiverne in our ring last November,” said Brett Yormark, CEO of Brooklyn Sports & Entertainment. “Deontay's long-awaited bout with Ortiz is sure to be one of 2018's best matchups.”
Wilder returns to Barclays Center after most recently scoring a sensational first round knockout of Bermane Stiverne on November 4, 2017 and previously delivering a highlight reel knockout of Artur Szpilka in January 2016. America's only reigning heavyweight champion will look to put on another unforgettable performance when he faces his toughest opponent to date in Ortiz.
