Although Luis Ortiz was unsuccessful in defeating Deontay Wilder to win the WBC heavyweight title, Ortiz will get a chance to insert himself back into the world heavyweight title picture.
In a massive update of its various world titles, the WBC has ordered a final eliminator title bout between Dillian Whyte and Luis Ortiz with the winner being put in the secondary mandatory challenger position for the WBC title.
Whyte, the WBC's No. 1 ranked heavyweight, has been on a big win streak since losing to Anthony Joshua in 2015. Whyte has won his last seven fights, capturing the WBC International, Silver and BBBofC British heavyweight titles. The 30-year-old Whyte is coming off a knockout win over Lucas Browne in England to retain his Silver title, firmly establishing himself as the top challenger to Wilder's title.
Ortiz last fought on March 3, getting stopped by Wilder in the main event of a Showtime Championship Boxing card at the Barclays Center. Ortiz was originally supposed to fight Wilder last year, but Ortiz violated the WBC's Clean Boxing Program, delaying the fight until last March.
The WBC does have a heavyweight challenger in Dominic Breazeale, who won a title eliminator last year. Breazeale, who is ranked No. 2 in the WBC heavyweight rankings, has been rumored to be a backup fight for Wilder in case Wilder does not end up fighting unified WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in his next fight.
