In 2015, Deontay Wilder defeated Bermane Stiverne to become the United States’ first major heavyweight champion in nearly a decade. Wilder’s resume was filled with spectacular knockouts, brash interviews and featured zero losses. However’ Wilder was never fully embraced as heavyweight champion because his resume lacked serious competition.
Stiverne was the only respectable notch on Wilder’s belt. A closer look reveals that even the Haitian-Canadian’s credibility was shaky. His signature wins came against Chris Arreola and a 40-year-old Ray Austin.
Since he captured the WBC strap, Wilder (39-0-0, 38 KO) is 6-0 with all six wins coming by way of knockout. Still, he needs a signature victory over a dangerous opponent to ascend to true superstar status. This weekend, he will get a chance to level up.
Luis Ortiz (28-0-0, 24 KO) may not be a household name, but amongst dedicated boxing fans, he’s one of the most-respected fighters in the heavyweight division. Ortiz possesses a blend of power and technical precision that has become common for crafty, Cuban fighters, just not in the heavyweight ranks.
As Wilder angles towards a unification showdown versus WBA and IBF champion Anthony Joshua, Ortiz is the only heavyweight fighter standing in his way.
The 32-year-old Wilder and the 38-year-old Ortiz were supposed to square off in November 2017, but the fight was cancelled after Ortiz tested positive for banned substances in a Voluntary Anti-Doping Association-administered drug test. It was the second time in Ortiz’s career that he tested positive for banned substances. It was also the third time in 18 months that a Wilder fight was cancelled due to failed drug tests by his opponents.
Considering the doping allegations against Ortiz, it would be easy for Wilder to sidestep “King Kong” and keep fighting overmatched opponents until Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn are ready to sign on the dotted line. However, Wilder isn’t content to be a heavyweight champion. He wants to be the heavyweight champion.
Therefore, Saturday night, Wilder and Ortiz will finally trade blows in Brooklyn. The boisterous 6-foot-7, 220-pound “Bronze Bomber” will seek to defend his title against the 6-foot-4, 240-pound challenger.
For Wilder to win, he’ll need to keep Ortiz at bay with his jab and utilize effective ring movement to tire out his older, slower opponent. From a technical standpoint, Wilder is at a major disadvantage. However, his length, athleticism and explosiveness make his a slight favorite.
For Ortiz to win, he’ll need to keep Wilder close and work inside with his vicious hooks and uppercuts to the body. In his last bout, Ortiz bludgeoned Daniel Martz’s midsection en route to a second-round KO. Wilder is a much better fighter than Martz, but his abdomen will be just as open for punishment.
My pick: Two years ago, I would’ve picked Luis Ortiz by KO in a heartbeat. Now he’s two years older and slower. This should be one of the best fights of the year, but Wilder is too young, too agile and too strong. Technical deficiencies aside, I expect Wilder to keep his distance early and wait until his opponent is tired to pounce on his opponent. I’m not sure if Wilder has the juice to knock out his opponent, but I fully expect him to be in a position to go for it down the stretch. Unfortunately for him, Ortiz is too tough and too crafty to end up on Wilder’s KO reel. Deontay Wilder wins by majority decision.
McCluer South-Berkeley coach unfairly booted from district championship
Saturday night, I ventured out into the territory of Earl Austin Jr. (prep hoops) to catch the district championship basketball game between the ladies of Lutheran North and McCluer South – Berkeley. I had no particular allegiances or rooting interest in the game. I graduated from Lutheran North and still have many ties and friendships there. However, I grew up in Berkeley and the Bulldogs’ coach, Greg Brown, is a longtime friend. I showed up ready to root for both teams and hoping for a great game.
A few minutes into the first quarter of the game, Berkeley freshman Elyse Marshall, dribbled between two Crusaders when she was bumped, bounced like a pinball off the defenders and fell to the floor. No foul was called. The ball rolled out of bounds and was awarded to the Crusaders.
As fans rightfully questioned the lack of a foul call, Marshall rolled over unveiled a mouth full of blood sustained from the fall.
Coach Brown and a medic rushed to Marshall’s aid. The game halted for a few minutes while she received medical attention (Marshall later returned to the game). Brown did not appear to say a word to the officials as he walked over to his player or back to the bench.
The next play, lead official Mike Hobart approached Brown on the bench and Brown petitioned him to, “Call the foul.” Hobart immediately hit the coach with a technical foul. Another official approached Brown on the sidelines after the tech and the two engaged in a brief conversation. It appeared the second official, might hit Brown with a second technical foul, resulting in an automatic ejection. However, it appeared that the official realized that a) Brown had a legitimate reason to be upset and b) Brown never approached the officials in the first place therefore an ejection just a few minutes in a district championship game would be absurd.
Hobart did not have the same discernment.
A few minutes later, Brown stood up and clapped while talking to one of his players. From across the court, Hobart yelled, “Sit down!”
Brown responded, “I’m coaching my team.”
Hobart hit him with his second technical foul and tossed him from the game.
I’ve been to hundreds of prep basketball games over the years and I’ve never witnessed an ejection as mind-boggling or unnecessary as what happened Saturday night. A coach was kicked out of a game, a playoff game, in the first quarter for daring to utter the words, “Call the foul” and “I’m coaching my team.” I’m also unaware of any MHSAA rule that requires basketball coaches to sit down during the game.
Lutheran North went on to win the game 63-29. Congratulations and good luck to the Crusaders.
Shame on Hobart for the ridiculous ejection. McCluer South-Berkeley’s girl deserved to have their head coach on the sidelines.
When contacted by The American, Brown declined to comment on the game or the ejection.
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