By Radio Rahim
WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (39-0, 38 KOs) admits that he will never view his upcoming opponent, Cuba's Luis Ortiz (28-0, 24 KOs), as a clean fighter.
Last year, Ortiz failed a pre-fight drug test. The undefeated boxer tested positive for a banned substance for the second time in his career.
Ortiz tested positive for performance enhancing drugs in the aftermath of a first round knockout over Lateef Kayode in 2014. The Nevada State Athletic Commission would fine and suspend Ortiz for nine months.
And then last October, Ortiz tested positive for two banned substances - and as a result he was pulled from a planned fight with Wilder.
The World Boxing Council investigated the matter and determined that Ortiz's prescribed medication for high blood pressure played a role in his failed test.
With the WBC removing any obstacles, the Showtime televised fight between Wilder and Ortiz was rescheduled for March 3 at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Wilder, who in the last two years has lost three opponents due to failed drug tests, is still very nervous that his upcoming fight will get canceled due to mishap with Ortiz.
Because of that, Wilder claims that he's got spies lurking around everywhere and they are watching Ortiz very closely.
"Hell no [I don't view him as being a clean fighter], he'll never be accepted as a clean fighter. He's a second time offender. And he's probably thinking about doing it a third time, and shame on him if he do. I hope everybody in Miami whoops his ass if he do," Wilder told BoxingScene.com.
"I heard he's going to be going to LA to do his thing. I just want to let Ortiz know - that I have a close eye on him, everywhere he goes, everything he do - he better be careful. It don't matter who he thinks is around him, he better be careful."
2023-10-20 09:40:47
