Following yesterday’s final press conference announcing tomorrow’s heavyweight title defense against Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder sounds off on a number of topics, including what’s holding up an anticipated title unification with Anthony Joshua.
Wilder on his intense face-off with Ortiz:
“[Luis Ortiz] is scared. He’s scared, he intimidated, he fears me because he never had a person like me to step to him. He never had a person like me look him in his eyes like he is. And I can’t wait! I’m the best in America. I’m the best in the world and I’ma keep sayin’ it. And I’ma keep provin’ it to the world! I am a king, I’m a black king at that. And I’ma show the world who I really am!
“They say I talk too much, then hey, come and shut me up because when I was quiet they was complaining. So when I’m loud they still complaining. So it don’t matter! So while I’m the champion and I’m loud, I’ma continue to be loud because if I’m loud and proving myself each and every time in the ring — that just make me continue on to say what I mean, and mean what I say.
“I’m the best in the world! And anybody got the dignity and got the heart to prove me wrong then come and step in front of me! Come and step in the ring with me! And show me, right now, come and shut this loudmouth up. I wanna be shut up! I want the world to see this. I want the world to witness this. Any heavyweight champion, any heavyweight contender: once I unify the division, those that been waiting, those that been calling me out, they will get they opportunity as well! I will wipe the heavyweight division, I’ll clean slate, and then I can let go of my belts and, hey, let somebody else enjoy it.
“Saturday night is gonna be special! We gotta keep in mind I blessed him with this opportunity. I coulda ran, I had all the excuses in the world to run but I still chose to fight him because I am a champion! I’m a champion heart! How many other champions had the opportunity to fight Luis Ortiz but they ran? We talk about [Anthony] Joshua all the time but they didn’t wanna fight Luis Ortiz...They ran from him! But look at me, baby! Showing that I am the best, proving that I am the best each and every time I step in the ring! And come Saturday night it won’t be no lesser than what I say it’s gonna be!
“This is the most exciting fight in boxing right now, baby. King Kong versus the King — The Bronze Bomber. Deontay Wilder.”
On what’s the biggest statement he can make tomorrow night:
“Face down, ass up!”
On Eddie Hearn saying he’s living in fantasy land with his purse demands for a Joshua fight:
“Eddie Hearn just another white man milking a black man! That’s all it is. It’s easy! It’s about time for somebody to say it and come out with it! And I don’t hold my voice, I don’t have no filter, and I speak what I said because that’s his actions!...He’s been milking Annabelle. And Joshua been letting him because if Joshua really want this fight he know how to make it happen.
“They say they got so many things going on. I paid the [step aside] money with my mandatories. That’s easy! That can be happen. Give the fans what they wanna see! People wanna see it right now. They hide behind all these different things. I made them many offers if they talkin’ bout offers. Every last one of them declined...The British fans soak everything up that this man say, but in the end they gonna look stupid. They gonna look stupid! I can’t wait!”