Heavyweight Champ Deontay Wilder On Throwing the Perfect Punch and How He’ll Beat Luis Ortiz AND Anthony Joshua
“I will show the world what I have been saying all along, that I am the best heavyweight in the world.”
Deontay Wilder is ready to throw down. The WBC heavyweight boxing champion (39-0, 38 KOs) talked to Maxim before his March 3 fight with challenger Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs) at Brooklyn’s Barclay’s Center, which will be broadcast live on Showtime.
While Ortiz, the feared Cuban slugger nicknamed “King Kong,” is seen as Wilder’s most dangerous opponent yet, the Alabama-born champ is already looking forward to a future superfight with Anthony Joshua (20-0, 20 KOs), the British heavyweight sensation who sent Wladimir Klitschko into retirement and holds the IBF, WBA and IBO heavyweight belts.
Wilder‘s ultimate goal is to get past Ortiz and meet Joshua in a megabout that would crown the best heavyweight boxer on the planet, once and for all. Here, Wilder weighs in on Ortiz, Joshua and the future of the division.
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If a guy needed to defend himself in a street fight, what is the one punch he should throw to end things quickly?
As a kid, I never looked for trouble but it always found me. My father taught me to stand up for what was right, so I had to use my hands a lot. My favorite punch to throw is the overhand right. I’m scared of the power that my right hand has and the damage that it could inflict on my opponent. Have you seen what I did to Stiverne? Or Szpilka? And I’m going to do the same thing to Ortiz on Saturday night.
How do you plan to beat Luis Ortiz?
I plan on beating Luis Ortiz by being smart and my athleticism is going to be a game-changer. I have a spectacular jab which I’m looking to use on Ortiz. Ortiz has never been in the ring with the caliber fighter as myself, with the skillset that I have. I’m a true athlete. I hit angles. I’m hostile. I’m mobile. I have the heart of a lion. I am the king. I will show that on March the 3rd. I will show the world what I have been saying all along, that I am the best heavyweight in the world.
If you get past Ortiz, everyone is talking about a heavyweight unification fight with Anthony Joshua. Are you confident this fight will actually happen?
I would love to face the winner of the Joshua-Parker fight. I’ve been calling out both of those guys for a while, especially Joshua. I’m ready whenever he is. If he needs to take another fight to boost his confidence, then let him do that. I’ll be around for a long time and I’m not going anywhere no time soon. I do think the fight will happen, it’s just a matter of when. No promoter is going to be able to hide forever. I think it’s moreso his promoter than him because Joshua is a fighter. I respect all fighters. But his promoter has been milking the cow for so long, no it’s time to give up your cash cow. You can only make money off him for so long.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KdkmFR0ATUI
What is your prediction of what happens once you get Joshua in the ring?
Once I destroy Luis Ortiz and if he gets past Parker, then it’s no more waiting. It’s time. Let’s give the people what they’ve been waiting to see while we’re still in our primes and still healthy. There’s no more time to lose, let’s make it happen right now.
What else do you want to achieve as heavyweight champion in 2018?
Right now, I’m just focused on Ortiz and that’s the main goal right now. I know if I don’t get past Ortiz, a lot of people will be happy to see me fail. A lot of British fans want to see me fail because they don’t want me to take away what they have going on right now. All my focus is on Luis Ortiz, I’ve spoken enough about Joshua and still nothing has happened yet. I know they’re scared but sometimes you have to overcome your fears.