Wilder-Ortiz rematch official for November 23, MGM Grand in Las Vegas

LOS ANGELES -- Heavyweight world titleholder Deontay Wilder and Luis "King Kong" Ortiz made their rematch official on Saturday, formally announcing that they will meet again on Nov. 23 (FOX PPV) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

The fighters addressed the media at Staples Center hours before the Errol Spence Jr.-Shawn Porter welterweight title unification bout in the arena.

The chief support bout was also announced, which which will feature featherweight world titlist Leo Santa Cruz, who will go for a belt in a fourth weight class when he moves up to 130 pounds to face Miguel Flores for a vacant title.

Wilder (41-0-1, 40 KOs), 33, of Tuscaloosa, Alabama, who will be making his 10th title defense, must beat Ortiz again to earn a much-anticipated rematch with lineal champion Tyson Fury, whom he fought to a highly-disputed draw in December at Staples Center.

Fury (29-0-1, 20 KOs), 31, of England, survived two horrendous cuts over his right eye in a unanimous decision win against Otto Wallin on Sept. 14 in Vegas.

If Wilder is victorious against Ortiz, Wilder-Fury II is slated to take place on Feb. 22 in a joint ESPN/FOX pay-per-view event in Las Vegas.

Ortiz (31-1, 26 KO's), a 40-year-old slugger from Cuba based in Miami first faced Wilder on March 2018 in what turned out to be a Fight of the Year contender. Wilder knocked Ortiz down in the fifth round but was nearly stopped himself in the seventh round before knocking down Ortiz twice in the 10th to secure the knockout win.

"When I fought Ortiz, not only did he have the pedigree, but also he had the classification of being the boogeyman of the division," Wilder said. "I agree with those who say that Luis Ortiz was my toughest fight to date. No one wanted to fight him, and they still don't. In the rematch, there's more confidence and more motivation to do what I have to do. I've already seen the style before. It's going to make it more fun. I can't wait to see how he tries to handle me when I'm at my best."

Wilder admitted that he was sick coming into the fight, which could explain why he weighed-in for the bout at 214¾ pounds. This was the lightest Wilder had weighed since he was 214½ for the third fight of his professional career in 2009.

Although Wilder and Fury were just days away from finalizing immediate rematch after their draw, Fury signed with Top Rank to have his fights air on ESPN. Top Rank and Premier Boxing Champions, which handles Wilder, worked out a two-fight deal for the rematch and a third fight.

Wilder and Fury fought two interim bouts first. Wilder annihilated mandatory challenger Dominic Breazeale in the first round on May 18, and Fury did the same to Tom Schwarz in the second round on June 15, and then the Brit survived a tough challenge from Wallin two weeks ago. The only man standing in the way of the rematch is Ortiz, and he is coming to fight.

"I have to give Deontay Wilder a lot of credit for taking this fight because it shows he has the heart of a true champion," Ortiz said. "He is not at all scared to take a dangerous fight, because let's be honest, this is the most dangerous fight for him. In my opinion, he's the best heavyweight in the world until someone beats him, and that's exactly what I'm going to do on Nov. 23. 'King Kong' is coming to Las Vegas!"