Odds
Despite Ortiz's heroics in their first fight, Wilder opens up as an even heavier favorite for the rematch. The champion sits at 2/9 while Ortiz, at 3/1, is quite literally a 3 to 1 underdog.
For their first encounter, Wilder was solid, but not overwhelming, favorite. Deontay sat at 4/6 while Ortiz was slated as the 6/5 underdog.
Are fans and oddsmakers underestimating
Luis Ortiz because of his age? How many of those same fans and oddsmakers gave
Andy Ruiz no chance against Joshua due to the former's chubby physique?
Predictions
Kevin Barry, Elite Trainer: Obviously, Deontay's [opponent] is a lot tough tougher. Ortiz showed in the first fight he's still very, very capable. He found a way to land that left hand in the first fight and it shook him up.
"Personally, I think the rematch will be a lot easier [for Wilder]. I think Ortiz has looked very cumbersome in his last couple of fights. Both went the distance. He looked like a fighter who was starting to show his age (40)."
Barry acknowledged that Luis may have had difficulty getting motivated for those opponents but insisted the Cuban showed have been more dominant.
"... The opponents he was in with, he should have made the fights a lot easier than what they were." (Source:
FightHype)
Ronnie Shields, Elite Trainer: "Of course Ortiz will give Wilder problems," the trainer chimed. "Ortiz is a hard guy to fight and, plus, he's a big, strong guy. I think [Wilder is] is going to stop him again but it's going to be a tough fight like the first one."
"I think Wilder is confident in his power. He realizes he can hurt you. He has to be smart, though, because he saw in the first fight he can get hit and rocked. Ortiz has the power to win this fight but I think Wilder has to fight smarter than he did the first time."
"It can happen that way (Ortiz winning by points), but I think Wilder is smart enough to know what he has to do. He has to control the fight EARLY. He can't let Ortiz control the fight like he did the first time." (Source:
FightHype)