Boxing: Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz 2 early preview and pick

It was so nice they had to do it twice. Heavyweight kingpin Deontay Wilder will face off against Cuban powerhouse Luis Ortiz on November 23 in a rematch of their 2018 barnburner. Will Wilder secure another shot at Tyson Fury, or can Ortiz stake his claim as the main man in the division?

Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz Odds

Boxing free pick: Wilder (-470)

First fight was a clash for the ages

In their first encounter nearly 18 months ago, Wilder and Ortiz traded knockdowns in a sensational heavyweight clash, and Wilder ultimately emerged victorious. Once again Ortiz stands in the way of another mega fight with Tyson Fury.

There isn’t much to be said about Wilder that we don’t already know. He has a destructive right hand, works behind a sharp jab and has a mean streak a mile long. Against Ortiz, Wilder’s weaknesses made themselves known.

Ortiz’s movement and footwork were able to flummox Wilder, to the point where Ortiz nearly stopped his opponent in the seventh. The prodigious Cuban also has sensational power and can counterpunch, but even he succumbed to Wilder’s power.

Wilder will leave nothing to chance

Wilder will come into this fight far more confident and already adjusted to his crafty foe. When Wilder faced Bermane Stiverne the second time, Wilder blitzed the only fighter who went the distance with him in less than a round.

The best chance Ortiz has will come if Wilder tries to take him out quickly like Stiverne. Should Wilder try to end things aggressively and early, that will give Ortiz opportunities to counter and tie Wilder up to keep him off balance.

Ortiz has been subpar in latest fights

Ortiz is slowing down and hasn’t performed to his caliber in the three meandering fights he’s had since Wilder. Most recently Ortiz couldn’t get out of the way of Christian Hammer’s right hand and struggled at times versus an overmatched opponent.

Wilder has every advantage going into this one. He knows he can catch Ortiz, and his chin can take his best shots just fine. Keep in mind that before Ortiz hurt him, Wilder was on the verge of stopping Ortiz in the fourth before he was saved by the bell.

Ortiz has slowed down since their first fight and that lack of mobility makes the +350 for him a trap. The movement wasn’t enough in their first fight, and this perceived decline is troubling for upset-minded bettors.

Expect Wilder to be active early

Wilder will be more active in the early rounds, circle away from Ortiz’s left side and pepper him with jabs to test how sharp his reflexes may still be. If Ortiz opts to stand his ground and lets the first two rounds go without much activity, Wilder will start putting his punches together to try to bait a counter.

This composed performance from Wilder will ensure zero dramatic moments to the detriment of fight fans, but will yield the same knockout result all the same, as Ortiz will succumb to Wilder again from the fifth round onward.

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