Ortiz’ Ego Began Disrespecting Wilder, Creating The Opening of Doom in Round Seven

By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent

 

Luis ‘King Kong’ Ortiz won on at least five of the first six rounds on the scorecards, by visual observation and two of the actual scorecards as well. It appeared to be a close technical war. Ortiz appeared to be in the most magnificent condition of any heavyweight challenger ever seen.

 

So………….what went wrong in the rematch for the World Boxing Council World Heavyweight title at MGM Grand against Deontay Wilder? Ego, that’s what went wrong.

 

During round seven, with several near misses of power shots in both directions, seeming innocuous, Ortiz smiled and also shrugged Wilder off, egotistically disrespecting Wilder in the same way Sugar Ray Leonard did when he stuck his tongue out at Hector ‘Macho’ Camacho after a clinch during their March 1997 middleweight bout at Convention Center in Atlantic City, New Jersey, leading Camacho to a fifth-round knockout at stoppage of Sugar Ray. Ortiz flashed a contemptuous ego, and ego is not helpful in boxing against the superior power hitter. Meanwhile, Wilder remained respectful, focused and calm, looking for the magical opening to end the night. Ortiz had suddenly led a little success get to his head, resulting in inappropriate overconfidence in a high stakes world heavyweight champion, whereby an ego of any kind cannot be afforded. Wilder, on the other hand, with humility, did not front one, boxing smartly, carefully and with utmost respect for his opponent during this particular rematch bout. Asa result, the opening he patiently waited for would eventually come due to Ortiz’ mistakes in suddenly overestimating his abilities in the heat of battle.

 

Deontay Wilder approached this bout with caution. Near the end of round seven, Ortiz threw his caution and respect into the wind, and began swinging away. In doing so, with facial emotional contempt, he overlooked the key factor which makes Wilder what he is.

 

Deontay Wilder, 42-0-1 with 41 knockouts, Tuscaloosa, Alabama, ‘The Bronze Bomber’, is the hardest hitting heavyweight since Rocky Marciano. Though Wilder lacks Marciano’s technical skill, Wilder is still the same level of devastating hard hitter Marciano was, a fact the top flight heavyweight contenders are still overlooking. Wilder could go on another 10 years. Not even Andy Ruiz Jr., Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury, the Klitschko brothers, Lennox Lewis, you can throw the kitchen sink at Wilder. The bottom line is even the best fighter who has the ability to outpoint him technically has to be able to reach the final bell.

 

On the canvas on all fours, Ortiz fiddled with his mouthpiece amateurishly, much like Mike Tyson did when Buster Douglas knocked him out. Like Tyson, Ortiz allowed the distraction of the mouthpiece to cause him to get 10 counted out.

 

Ortiz countered Wilder’s left with a hard right hand over the top, in effect neutralizing Wilder’s ability to throw, so Wilder did not produce a significant punch count volume of note. Ortiz had begun to drop his left hand lazily and carelessly, and Wilder had begun pawing with both of his hands at Ortiz, looking for an opening to end the night. It only takes one punch, and Wilder found the hard right to the chin which ended Ortiz’ night.

 

True, Cuban southpaw Ortiz, 31-2 with 26 knockouts, Miami, Florida, had landed a number of hard lefts over the top on Wilder, who took them well. Luis Ortiz, a heavyweight professional of long experience, had fallen into the trap of letting his momentum rule his ring generalship. Sometimes, when a fighter is doing well, he or she thinks they have the bout in the bag. This happened several weeks ago at Staples Center in Los Angeles when Marcelo Esteban Coceres, An Argentine in the mold of the late Carlos Monzon unbeaten in pro 29 bouts, celebrated his great tenth round prematurely at the end of the round against Billy Jo Saunders, raising his hands in victory, and kissing his cornermen after the round ended. Coceres let his ego and over confidence run away with him, and the slight mistake enabled Saunders to drop him three times and retain his WBO World Super Middleweight title in the eleventh round. Monzon, unbeaten in his last 80 professional bouts, never underestimated an opponent, and had to get off the canvas against Rodrigo Valdes to retain his world middleweight title for the final time in 1977.

 

Wilder’s options are to fight the winner or the loser of Anthony Joshua versus Andy Ruiz Jr, coming up for the other share of the world heavyweight title and unify in 2020, or fight lineal world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury again. These bouts are where the big money sits. There are other contenders like Kubrat Pulev, Dillian Whyte, Jarrell Miller and Adam Kownacki who truly deserve a shot at one of the world heavyweight titles, though they are in the same league as the big names above them they are at least worthy challengers. Daniel Dubois and Joe Joyce are among the rising elite of heavyweight prospects who could get a shot at the world heavyweight title in 2021. At age 40, Ortiz has run out of options, except maybe to fight the other paper champion, the winner of Ruiz versus Joshua, or maybe Fury. Wilder landed 34 of 184 punches overall, while Ortiz landed 35 of 179 punches overall. Ortiz demonstrated technical skill and superior ring generalship for the first six rounds.

 

The bottom line with Luis Ortiz is he let a little it of success get to his head overconfidently, and when you lose track of your emotions, like Ivan Drago did in the final round of his mythical movie bout against Rocky Balboa, there are consequences against a superior heavyweight power hitter with a chin of granite. Even Roland LaStarza, a magnificent technical boxer, who like Ortiz, had a recent win over every opponent he had faced except for his first bout with Rocky Marciano, learned this the hard way when Marciano stopped him in the eleventh round of their rematch in the 1953 Ring Magazine Fight of the Year. LaStarza, who lost five of his last nine bouts, including getting knocked out again, was never the same fighter after the Marciano rematch,

 

Result: Deontay Wilder KO 7 Luis Ortiz, Heavyweights (2:51)

Wilder retains World Boxing Council World Heavyweight title

Referee: Kenny Bayless

 

MGM Grand Undercard

 

Brandon Figueroa Split Draw 12 Julio Ceja, Super Bantamweights

WBA World Super Bantamweight title

Texas’ Figueroa, the interim titleholder, now the regular titleholder. California Mexican challenger Ceja weighed in four and a half pounds overweight, so he could not win title.

Scoring: 114-114 Draw. 115-113 Figueroa. 116-112 Ceja.

 

 

Leo Santa Cruz Win 12 Miguel Flores, Super Featherweights

Santa Cruz wins vacant Super World Super Featherweight title

Scoring: 117-110, 117-110, 115-112 fort Santa Cruz.

 

Eduardo Ramirez TKO 4 LeDuan Barthelemy, Super Featherweights (2:59)

Upset by 23-2-3 Mexican southpaw Ramirez over 15-0-1 Cuban contender Barthelemy

 

Jhon Gemino KO 5 Arnold Alejandro, Super Featherweights (1:45)

21-12-1 Filipino Gemino had Alejandro down in first and upsets 11-0 Texas southpaw

 

Angel Alejandro Win 6 Mark John Yap, Featherweights

8-0 Texas featherweight prospect Angel Alejandro is only 19 years old

 

Viktor Slavinskyi Win 6 Rigoberto Hermosillo, Super Featherweights

Ukranian southpaw featherweight prospect Slavinsky, fighting out of Los Angeles, 11-0-1

 

Omar Juarez KO 6 Kevin Shacks, Welterweights (1:59)

6-0 Texas featherweight prospect Juarez had Shacks down twice in first, later kayoed him

 

Jose Manuel Gomez Referee’s Tech. Dec. 3 Daniel Placeres, Super Featherweights (3:00)

12-0 California super featherweight prospect Gomez had Placeres down in every round

 

Dustin Long KO 4 Marsellos Wilder, Cruiserweights (1:51)

Tennessee MMA fighter Long caught Wilder with a power left to the chin at short range

 

Vito Mielicki Jr. TKO 2 Marklin Bailey, Welterweights (2:31)

3-0 New Jersey amateur standout and welterweight prospect Mielicki is only 17 years old

WBC HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION DEONTAY WILDER SCORES HIGHLIGHT-REEL KNOCKOUT OF LUIS ORTIZ IN FOX SPORTS PBC PAY-PER-VIEW MAIN EVENT SATURDAY NIGHT FROM
THE MGM GRAND GARDEN ARENA IN LAS VEGAS
 
Leo Santa Cruz Wins WBA Super Featherweight Title & Becomes Four-Division Champion with Unanimous Decision over 
&
Brandon Figueroa Retains Super Bantamweight Title with Split Draw Against Julio Ceja; Eduardo Ramirez Stops Previously Unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy in Round Four
 
Vito Mielnicki Jr., Omar Juarez, Dustin Long & Viktor Slavinskyi Victorious in FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Prelims on FS2 & FOX Deportes
 
Click HERE for Main Event Photos & HERE for Additional Photos from Frank Micelotta/FOX Sports – Password: fox-ppv119
 
Click HERE for Photos from Ryan Hafey/Premier Boxing Champions
 
Click HERE for Photos from Stephanie Trapp/TGB Promotions
 
Click HERE for Photos from Sean Michael Ham/Mayweather Promotions
 
LAS VEGAS (November 24, 2019) – WBC Heavyweight World Champion Deontay “The Bronze Bomber” Wilder continued his title reign with a one-punch knockout victory over Luis “King Kong” Ortiz in the seventh round of their rematch Saturday night that headlined a FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.



Wilder made his 10th consecutive successful title defense, tying him with Joe Louis, Muhammad Ali, Mike Tyson, Larry Holmes, Tommy Burns and Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko as the only heavyweight champions to achieve that feat.
In a rematch of their epic 2018 fight that saw Wilder rally back from nearly being stopped to knock out Ortiz in round 10, the fight again saw both men hold the momentum of the fight at different times.
Ortiz controlled much of the action of the fight as he sought to become the first Cuban heavyweight champion in history. Wilder was not very active in the early rounds, while Ortiz was able to effectively jab, move and throw overhand lefts to rack up rounds on the scorecard.
“With Ortiz, you can see why no other heavyweight wants to fight him,” said Wilder. “He’s very crafty, he moves strategically and his intellect is very high. I had to measure him in certain places.”
Much of Wilder’s attack throughout the first six rounds was centered on his jab and a sweeping left hook that didn’t seem to land cleanly until early in round seven. With the seventh round waning, Wilder used a feint and a straight right cross to put Ortiz down, the first time he had been hurt at all in the fight.
“I had to go in and out and finally I found my measurement,” said Wilder. “I saw the shot and I took it. My intellect is very high in the ring and no one gives me credit for me. I think I buzzed him with a left hook earlier in the round and I took it from there.”
While Ortiz was able to get to his feet, referee Kenny Bayless waived off the bout at 2:51 into the seventh round. Ortiz led on all three scorecards, by margins of 58-56 and 59-55 twice. According to CompuBox, Ortiz out landed Wilder 35 to 34, with a 28 to 17 advantage in power punches.
“This is boxing,” said Ortiz. “I said that one of us was going to get knocked out and it wasn’t going to go 12 rounds. I was clear headed when I hit the canvas. When I heard the referee say seven I was trying to get up, but I guess the count went a little quicker than I thought.



“This was a great fight and I thought I was clearly winning,” continued Ortiz. “I got caught with a big shot and I have to give Deontay Wilder a lot of credit.  I knew my movement was giving him problems.  I landed some big shots and I thought I had him hurt.  I thought I was up by the count and could have continued.”
In the ring following the fight, Ortiz asserted that he will continue his quest for a heavyweight championship.
“Deontay showed great will and I’m not ashamed with my performance,” said Ortiz. “I know I can beat anyone in the heavyweight division. My career is not over. I’m going to work my way back into a big fight.”
After the fight, Wilder told FOX Sports’ Heidi Androl that his goal is to unify the heavyweight division and become undisputed champion.
“Next, we have Tyson Fury in the rematch,” said Wilder.” It’s scheduled for February, so we’ll see. Then, I want unification. I want one champion, one face and one heavyweight champion – Deontay Wilder. The heavyweight division is too small, there should be one champion and it’s Deontay Wilder.”
In the co-main event, Leo “El Terremoto” Santa Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KOs) became a four-division world champion by capturing the WBA Super Featherweight with a unanimous decision over Miguel Flores (24-3, 12 KOs).
“Winning this title means the world to me,” said Santa Cruz. “This is all for the fans who support me. I didn’t feel myself today and didn’t perform the way I wanted to. I’m going to get back in the gym and get a big fight in 2020.”
The action began to heat up in round three, as Santa Cruz began to find a home for his straight right hand that would help him control much of the remainder of the fight. Flores adjusted and used more movement to try to counteract Santa Cruz’s aggression and also focused on countering those right hands with body shots.
“I’m glad I got the victory,” said Santa Cruz. “Miguel is a good fighter, he gave me a tough fight and he proved he’s not a pushover. We put on a great battle.”



“It was a good fight and I showed I belong at this level,” said Flores. “I just went 12 rounds with Leo Santa Cruz. It’s not an accomplishment in itself but I slowed down his pace. Like I said before, it’s not only about throwing punches, but it’s about ring IQ and I showed I have it.”
Despite Flores’ tactics, Santa Cruz was able to stay in control and frustrate his opponent. Flores was deducted a point by referee Tony Weeks in round eight due to excessive holding during the many exchanges.
Santa Cruz held the edge in punches landed at 253 to 222, while Flores threw more punches than Santa Cruz by a tally of 1024 to 907.
“It was a close fight and I didn’t think he was landing too much,” said Flores. “He was busy but he wasn’t landing too many shots. I landed cleaner harder shots but he was just busier.”
Flores continued to try to rough up Santa Cruz and accidentally hit him with a headbutt in the ninth round that opened up a cut over Santa Cruz’s left eye. The four-division champion was able to weather that cut and finished strong on his way to a unanimous decision by scores of 115-112 and 117-110 twice. Watch highlights HERE.
“I want to stay at 130,” said Santa Cruz. “We want the big fights in 2020. I want Gervonta Davis or Gary Russell Jr. I want to show the world I’m not scared of anybody.”
The pay-per-view also featured WBA Super Bantamweight Champion Brandon “The Heartbreaker” Figueroa (20-0-1, 15 KOs) retaining his title with a split draw against former champion Julio Ceja (32-4-1, 28 KOs) after 12 rounds of action.
“I think I did win the fight,” said Figueroa. “He put on a lot of pressure, but I fought better in the early rounds and I finished strong.”
Figueroa started the fight in control, closing down the distance early and using his activity and combinations to take early control of the action. Ceja’s strategy early was to counter his charging opponent, but he soon picked up the aggression to not allow Figueroa’s offensive momentum to grow.
In the middle rounds, Ceja began taking control, landing the more powerful punches while Figueroa continued to come forward, but was not able to land anything that slowed Ceja’s offense. Watch highlights HERE.
Figueroa was able to weather the storms in the middle rounds and make it to the late rounds where he again picked up the activity and body attack. He was able to bust Ceja’s lip throughout the action, causing it to swell and bleed.
The punch output was impressive from both fighters, with their 784 combined punches landed good for the fourth most in super bantamweight history, while their 2,811 punches thrown were the second highest, according to CompuBox. Figueroa earned a narrow 411 to 373 advantage in punches landed.
After 12 rounds, the judges’ totals were 115-113 for Figueroa, 116-112 for Ceja and 114-114, which resulted in the split draw decision.
“This fight is for all of you fans who came here to see me,” said Ceja. “He was a man about it and he gave me the fight. I think I won, but I respect the judges’ decision. I’ll definitely run it back in a rematch.”
Ceja was not able to win the title after failing to make the 122-pound limit at Friday’s weigh-in.
“I basically fought a person in a weight class above mine tonight,” said Figueroa. “I’m pretty sure if he weighed 122, it wouldn’t even be a close fight. We have to run the rematch back but he better make the weight.”
The pay-per-view opener saw Mexico’s Eduardo Ramirez (23-2-3, 10 KOs) deliver an impressive fourth-round TKO victory over previously unbeaten Leduan Barthelemy (15-1-1, 7 KOs) in their featherweight rematch. Watch the highlight HERE
“I said before the fight, I wasn’t going to let it go to the judges,” said Ramirez. “The first fight wasn’t a draw. I worked very hard for this and it turned out how I wanted today. I felt his punching power. He’s a good fighter. I came here to fight. Viva Mexico.”
The fight began tactically, with Barthelemy looking to use his reach advantage to work off of his jab, while Ramirez sought to work inside and deliver power punches. In round three, Ramirez began to break through Barthelemy’s defense with a series of hooks late in the round.
Ramirez continued to come forward in round four, pressing Barthelemy and finding additional cracks in his defense. Late in the round, Ramirez broke through with a glancing right hook that he followed up with a perfect straight left that put Barthelemy down.
While Barthelemy was able to get to his feet, referee Russell Mora waived off the bout at 2:59 of the fourth round. Ramirez held a 73 to 52 advantage in punches landed, including 27 in round three and 31 in round four.
“I’ve got no excuses,” said Barthelemy. “The better man won tonight. I had a great camp and I was feeling good. But when I got out there I wasn’t really feeling my best. I turned around to try to walk around and get my feet under me after the knockdown. I wasn’t trying to stop the fight or anything and I thought I could continue. Now I just have to live with it and come back.”
FOX Sports PBC Pay-Per-View Prelims on FS2 and FOX Deportes saw sensational 17-year-old prospect Vito Mielnicki Jr. (3-0, 3 KOs) deliver a stoppage of Marklin Bailey (6-6, 4 KOs) 2:31 into the second round of their welterweight affair. Plus, rising super lightweight prospect Omar Juarez (6-0, 4 KOs) dropped Kevin Shacks (3-5-3, 3 KOs) three times on his way to a TKO victory 1:59 into round six.
Additional prelims fights featured Tennessee’s Dustin Long (3-1-2, 3 KOs) scoring a knockout of Marsellos Wilder (5-2, 2 KOs) with a left hook that ended the fight 1:51 into the fourth round. Watch the highlight HERE. The opening bout of prelims saw Ukraine’s Viktor Slavinskyi (11-0-1, 6 KOs) earn a unanimous decision over Mexico’s Rigoberto Hermosillo (11-2-1, 8 KOs) after six rounds of super featherweight action by scores of 60-54, 59-55 and 58-56.
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Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert Brizel - Head Boxing Correspondent
Robert is the Head Boxing Correspondent for Real Combat Media Boxing since 2013. Robert is also a photographer and ringside reporter for the RCM Tri State region which includes NJ, NY and PA. Robert conducts exclusive interviews, provides historical boxing articles and provides editorial ringside coverage of major boxing events. You can contact or follow Robert on Facebook and by email at [email protected].