Deontay Wilder has secured an impressive piece of boxing history, improving to 40-0 with a brutal knockout of Luis Ortiz.
It marks the 39th knockout of Wilder's career, the most by any heavyweight champion in history after 40 fights.
Wilder remained undefeated and defended his WBC heavyweight championship belt with a 10th round stoppage of Ortiz on Saturday night at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.
Wilder knocked down Ortiz three times in the fight, finishing off the previously unbeaten challenger with a right uppercut as the referee stopped the fight with 55 seconds left in the 10th.
It's the first loss of Ortiz's career, the Cuban now 28-1.
“I am the most dangerous man in the world," Wilder said after the fight. "I am the most baddest man on the planet."
Wilder's victory paves the way for a mouthwatering clash with IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua of the UK.
Wilder compared Joshua to a cow in calling out the fellow unbeaten fighter ahead of Sunday's bout.
A Wilder-Joshua showdown figures to be the biggest bout the heavyweight division has seen in more than a decade -- if it ever comes off.
Former undisputed heavyweight champion Lennox Lewis was very impressed with victory.
He believes Wilder will rise after that win, in the same manner that Joshua rose up after nearly getting stopped in the sixth round of last April's fight with Wladimir Klitschko - but coming back in the later rounds to knock the veteran out in the eleventh.
"This fight will do for Wilder what the Klitschko fight did for AJ. He showed heart and composure at the brink of defeat. It only makes me want to see Wilder and Joshua that much more.. but AJ has his own business to take care of," Lewis stated.
Joshua must overcome WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker on March 31 at Principality in Cardiff, Wales.
2023-10-20 13:37:50
2023-10-20 13:38:17
