Mauricio Sulaiman, WBC president, tweeted-out late last night that Luis Ortiz (27-0, 23 KO) had tested positive in a September 22nd Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) for banned substances. Lou DiBella, the event's promoter, hath in response told ESPN that the fight is likely off. Specifically, the "A" sample tested positive for chlorothiazide and hydrochlorothiazide. These are banned diuretics which can be used to control high blood pressure and/or be used as masking agents for 'roid usage. Or, as Ortiz's camp is vehemently suggesting, as a treatment for type 2 diabetes.
Humsoever, the either 38, 72 or any age twixt year-old Ortiz, already famously tested positive for 'roids after his 2014 first-round knockout win over Lateef Kayode. Thus losing the WBA's interim title 'at the needle' in lieu of the more time-honored and traditional 'on the scale.' I prefer saying 'roids over PEDs, in boxing particularly. In baseball, Bonds employs performance enhancing drugs to crush 73 big-flies. In boxing, the 240-pound "Real King Kong" scrambles some-one's brains in a permanent varietal a' manner. I'm less forgiving here, see?
During last week's NYC presser fight announcement, Wilder was vocal in his concerns re: Ortiz;'s cleanliness. Including but not limited to stating: "Stay clean. Don't f*ck this up for me, nor you, because I'm gonna prove to the world that I am the best." Did he really say "nor?" Feeding Wilder's nerves here were already having seen a mandatory May 2016 Russian defense against Russian Alexander Povetkin fall away whenst the contender failed a 'roid scan. Then again in February a' this year, Wilder's scheduled title defense against Andrzej Wawrzyk was also called off due to the Pollack testing dirty.
DiBella to ESPN: "I can verify the information Mauricio put out. I'm flabbergasted and particularly crestfallen for my fighter. Deontay Wilder is a great champion and a clean champion and probably has been victimized more than any other fighter in the history of the sport."
But is Wilder really the victim here? The Povetkin fight was a fight I couldn't see The Bronze Bomber winning, and too boot, he was awarded a cool $5M in a U.S. Federal Court breech of contract suit. Then Wawrzyk becomes a lot less dangerous Gerald Washington -- who actually hung around awhile till allowing Wilder's windmills to overwhelm him in the fifth stanza.
All's I'm saying is that you can side with DiBella or make a case that a limited and protected pug is having a helluva lucky run. My guess is he gets fed the under-card's Stiverne again... much easier than Ortiz... juice or not. Thusly hanging around the heavyweight division's upper-echelon perchance longer than his talents would allow on their lonesome.
EDIT 10/4/17
The WBC has just announced it hath withdrawn sanctioning of the bout Deontay Wilder vs. Luis Ortiz due to Ortiz’s failed drug test. Wilder will now be making his new mandatory defense against former champ Bermane Stiverne, whom was scheduled to fight on the under-card. No word as to an under-card replacement as of yet.
EDIT 10/11/17
It's been announced that Eric Molina will step in to fight Dominic Breazeale on the under-card.
IN (unrelated) ADDITION:
Check out my latest podcast --
"Dion Giolito" Kaplowitz Radio: September 27, 2017