DEONTAY Wilder will not dodge Luis Ortiz to get the Tyson Fury rematch on year.
That is according to the WBC champ’s manager Shelly Finkel, who says that the American is preparing for part two against Ortiz next.
Back in March last year, Wilder secured a 10th-round KO win against the 40-year-old Cuban.
It was far from a polished display, with Wilder rocked at several stages during the scrap in Brooklyn.
Last month, Wilder posted on Twitter: “To all my fans, I want to announce that Luis Ortiz and I have signed for a rematch, with the date and site to be announced shortly.
“All my controversial fights must get dealt with ASAP.”
But Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn recently told boxing social that he thinks Wilder may scrap the Ortiz rematch to get the Fury fight before the end of the year.
He thinks the winner of Fury versus Wilder will defend the WBC strap against Dillian Whyte.
But Finkel has shot down that talk and says Wilder will do just as he tweeted and take on Ortiz first, and then Fury.
Speaking to World Boxing News, Finkel said: “At this time, and as Deontay Wilder has told his fans, we are fighting Luis Ortiz. Then we will fight Tyson Fury.
“I’m not sure why this question is being asked, but Deontay’s fight, our next fight, is Ortiz. The Fury rematch will follow.”
After Fury’s dismantling of previously unbeaten German Tom Schwarz in Las Vegas in his last fight, there was clamour for the Gypsy King to take on a bigger name.
And clearly the rematch against Wilder is the one boxing fans around the world are salivating for.
But first Wilder will defend his world title against veteran Ortiz, with the Fury scrap likely to take place in the early part of 2020. – SunSport
