COMING FOR UK
Deontay Wilder stops Luis Ortiz to retain WBC heavyweight title and eyes Anthony Joshua fight
AJ wants to unify with the WBC belt holder once he has dealt with Joseph Parker on March 31 in Cardiff
DEONTAY WILDER paved the way for a megafight with Anthony Joshua with a brutal stoppage of Luis Ortiz in New York.
But the Bronze Bomber did not have it all his own way in a rollercoaster clash against the previously undefeated Cuban.
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Wilder, who had ended all but one of his previous 39 wins inside the distance, seemed to be sailing to another knockout win when he dropped Ortiz late in the fifth round.
But the challenger rallied during a huge seventh round and appeared to have his American opponent out on his feet when the bell went.
The tense clash then swung wildly once more in a mad 10th round which had Ortiz down and out with just 55 seconds left until the bell.
The final blow was a crippling uppercut which sent Ortiz down to his knees, giving referee David Fields no choice but to wave it off instantly.
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Now the WBC king, who has answered any remaining questions about the quality of his chin, can look forward to a potential fight for the ages against Joshua later this year.
The WBA and IBF champ from Watford has the chance to add the WBO crown to his collection when he faces undefeated New Zealander Joseph Parker in Cardiff later this month.
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Now it feels like only a matter of time before Wilder and Joshua tangle in a transatlantic tussle which could smash all previous revenue records.
The 32-year-old said: “I always said I want to unify all the titles. My goal is to unify.
“I am the most dangerous in the world, the baddest man on the planet. I proved that tonight.
“Soon there will be one champion, one face, one name – that will be Deontay Wilder.
“It's not about how big your muscles are – it's about the heart.”
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He had to prove every ounce of it during a testing clash, in which he had fallen clearly behind on the cards despite the fifth-round knockdown.
After being rapped to the ring by 42-year-old Lil Kim, Wilder was greeted warmly by the 14,069 crowd here at the Barclays.
But they might have been a touch nervous after a cagey first round which the challenger Ortiz nicked on the scorecards.
The undefeated southpaw touched down as early as the second round, but it was only a slip as he over-reached with a big left hand.
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And the fans were booing by the third as the southpaw and orthodox fighters got caught in the classic tapfest rather than the explosive war they had been promised.
The fourth was a big round for Ortiz who was pushing Wilder back against the ropes and got through with a couple of stiff backhands.
Wilder was falling worryingly short with his jabs and did not look too interested in moving his head when under attack.
Ortiz seemed to be finding a rhythm, circling to his right, safely away from Wilder's rocket back hand.
But with just seconds left in the fifth, Wilder got through with a big right, which wobbled Ortiz, who was sent crashing to the canvas by a follow-up right hook.
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The champion, however, took his foot off the gas in the sixth despite the breakthrough and allowed the challenger to regroup once more.
And he very nearly paid the price in a crazy seventh round, as Ortiz appeared to have the big Alabaman out on his feet as he unloaded with a series of crushing power shots.
Wilder somehow stayed up to hear the bell but it seemed to be a huge turning point in the fight.
It was anything but.
Instead, the Tuscaloosa native did what he does best and rendered another man utterly unable to stand with a few wild and vicious blows.
Wilder added: "A true champion always finds a way to come back.
“Luis Ortiz is a crafty guy, the skills showed and he put up a great fight.
"I showed everyone I can take a punch.
"When he leaves tonight he can go with his head held up high.
"He hit me with flurries of punches but they didn't have any sting, they just knocked me off balance.
"I showed I am a true champion tonight.
";My grandmother told me a long time ago that I was anointed by God.”
The American picked up £1.5million for his role at the Barclays Center but he could comfortably pocket 10 times that amount by stepping in the ring with Joshua.
And he will jet into Cardiff later this month with everything crossed that the Londoner can do the business too.
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