Understandably, Deontay Wilder was devastated that his third straight scheduled opponent has failed a drug test. Us boxing fans aren’t too much behind him in terms of feeling disappointment either as this was one of the most anticipate bouts remaining on the 2017 schedule. There is still a glimmer of hope though as Wilder is apparently asking the WBC to let him go ahead with the fight anyway.
It is very unlikely that Deontay Wilder (38-0, 37 KOs) will still be allowed to fight Luis Ortiz (27-0, 23 KOs) following the Cuban’s second career PED test failure, but we can hope. It isn’t like boxing as a collective sport has never made strange, nonsensical moves for money before, but I can’t remember the result of a drug test ever being disregarded. Maybe it could be a non-title fight, I guess.
Most likely Wilder will end up fulfilling his mandatory responsibility in fighting Bermane Stiverne again. No one wants to see that fight as Wilder already has won it easily. Blame the WBC here. The only reason to name the already easily defeated opponent the number one contender in my view is corruption, but I guess we can’y completely rule out incompetence. Stiverne is already scheduled to compete on the card so moving him to the main event would be easy.
The WBC says it has a ruling on the matter coming “soon”. Either way, the November 4th Showtime card is moving forward.
