LAS VEGAS – Luis Ortiz was disgusted with himself. Once again, he had Deontay Wilder right where he wanted him. And, again, he had to watch as "The Bronze Bomber" celebrated another knockout victory over the Cuban.
Ortiz gave Wilder all he could handle for six rounds as he built up a moderate lead over the WBC heavyweight champion. However, he was careless for one moment at the end of the seventh round and woke up on the canvas with referee Kenny Bayless counting him out.
It’s the second time this has happened to the 40-year-old where everything he did was nullified by one right hand. He should have seen it coming. This is why Ortiz shook his head in disbelief throughout the post-fight press conference as he addressed the media about what went wrong Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.
He's mad, but not mad enough to walk away from the sport that he loves.
“I said it was either going to be him or me,” Ortiz stated.
In the build-up to the fight, both camps promised that the judges wouldn’t be needed in the rematch due to their remarkable punching power. But, for a minute, it felt like Ortiz was going to cruise to a points victory as he thoroughly outboxed Wilder.
And then it all ended with a right hand from Wilder who sent Ortiz careening to the canvas.
“I got caught. I slipped the punch wrong. I’m in shock and disappointed,” he said, still shaking his head as he forced a smile.
Up until that point, Ortiz looked like the better fighter. But against arguably one of the biggest one-punch knockout artists in the history of the sweet science, you can’t take your eye off the ball.
Nevertheless, Ortiz isn’t going to allow the loss to push him into retirement. Even at 40, the Cuban who sports a 31-2 record believes that he has a lot more to give to the sport of boxing. He’s disappointed in himself and frustrated that he let another one get away from him. Unfortunately for the rest of the division, they will have to pay.
“Retirement is out of the picture,” Ortiz said when asked what's next for him. “I’m going to take out my frustrations on the other heavyweights that want to challenge me. Anyone that thinks I’m old, well step up.”
At the point of the stoppage, Ortiz was ahead on the scorecards 58-56, 59-55 and 59-55. Wilder sang the praises of Ortiz afterward and hoped that the rest of the heavyweight division would be brave enough to step into the ring with "King Kong."
“He’s definitely one of the most dangerous men in the heavyweight division and there’s a reason why the rest of these heavyweights do not want to fight him,” Wilder said. “Hopefully, they’ll give him the opportunity that he truly deserves.”