Deontay Wilder has a rematch slated with Tyson Fury in February and will likely be watching the Andy Ruiz Jr.-Anthony Joshua unification bout very carefully before that on Dec. 7.
To position himself in either or both directions in 2020, "The Bronze Bomber" must first defend his WBC world heavyweight title in a rematch against Luis Ortiz at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas as part of a FOX Sports PBC pay-per-view on Nov. 23.
"It ain't no better feeling to go to war with another gladiator," Wilder said in a news conference at the Staples Center ahead of the Errol Spence Jr.-Shawn bout on Saturday.
"We're willing to die in the ring," Wilder said moments later. "How many people say they're willing to die for their jobs? But we are because we're passionate about it, we love it, we want to give y'all the best fight possible and we will do that."
Ortiz had Wilder wobbled in the seventh round of their original March 2018 fight, to the point the referee could have arguably stopped the bout. But "The Bronze Bomber" hung tough and hurt Ortiz before dropping him twice in the 10th round, including a vicious right uppercut that awarded him with the 10th-round TKO.
Ortiz (31-1, 26 KOs) vows that the outcome for the rematch will be different.
"Nov. 23, I won't make the same mistake that I made on the last fight," he said in Spanish through an interpreter. "I'm coming more prepared, more aggressive, you know with more of everything."
Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs) also took the time to remind boxing pundits and fans alike that Ortiz "was the boogeyman" of the division and that he's still the only one willing to fight him.
"When I fought Ortiz not only did he have the pedigree, but also he had the classification of being the boogeyman of the division," Wilder said prior to the conference via statement. "I agree with those who say that Luis Ortiz was my toughest fight to date. No one wanted to fight him and they still don't. In the rematch, there's more confidence and more motivation to do what I have to do. I've already seen the style before. It's going to make it more fun. I can't wait to see how he tries to handle me when I'm at my best."