The Deontay Wilder versus Luis Ortiz dream didn’t last very long. Unbelievably, Ortiz is the third straight Wilder opponent to fail a VADA drug test and need to be switched out. This is also the Cuban’s second failed test of his career. A new opponent will need to be selected for the November 4th Showtime date.
Luis Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) failed his first drug test following his late 2014 first round stoppage of Lateef Kayode, a fight that was later turned to a no contest. Now with two failed tests under his belt, this time for a masking agent, the heavyweight division now has all the ammunition it could possibly need to continue ignoring the dangerous Cuban.
Incredibly, Ortiz is the third straight opponent for Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) to fail a VADA drug test. Fights against Alexander Povetkin and lesser known Andrzej Wawrzyk also had to be canceled for the very same reason. This has been a terrible run of luck for the Alabama based heavyweight titleholder. Now, yet again, he will need a new opponent.
One option would be to make his mandated defense against Bermane Stiverne. Wilder already easily defeated Stiverne, but for whatever reason the WBC decided to name him the mandatory challenger anyway. The Haitian heavyweight had to be paid a step aside fee to even allow for the Ortiz fight and is already on the undercard. No one wants to see this fight, but it is a practical alternative.
More attractively, British heavyweight contender Dillian Whyte is calling for his shot. I don’t know how realistic this proposition is, but it would certainly be a fantastic way to save the November 4th main event. Shawn Porter is fighting Adrian Granados while Sergey Lipinets pursues a vacant title on the Showtime televised undercard.
