WBC champion Deontay Wilder is hoping to make history by becoming the first man to unify the heavyweight division following his victory over Luis Ortiz at the Barclays Center on Saturday.
The 32-year-old was forced to dig deep against the veteran in New York but he ultimately proved too strong as he landed a first ever defeat on Ortiz.
Ortiz looked like he may have been on course to upset the favourite when he caught Wilder with a strong right uppercut in the seventh round, however, Wilder showed some character to recover.
Wilder went on to put Ortiz on the canvas twice before eventually taking his perfect record to 40-0 with a knockout in round 10.
He now looks set to take on either IBF and WBA champion Anthony Joshua or WBO belt holder Joseph Parker in a unification fight later this year.
Joshua and Parker will meet at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on March 31 with all of their titles on the line and Wilder has confirmed he will be ringside to keep an eye on his competitors.
No man has ever held all of the heavyweight titles at one time but Wilder believes he can make history to unify the division.
Wilder said: “I always said I want to unify all the titles. My goal is to unify.
“I don’t care about popularity or who has the most money – I want to know who is the best in the world – I want to make the sport about ‘who is the best’. And tonight I did that.
“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. “I want to unify the division, I want to see who the best in the world is. I know I am. I am going to be speaking loud and speaking proud.
“I am looking forward to Cardiff, I have never been there. I have a lot of friends in the UK. I am going to enjoy myself and look forward to fighting the winner – if they are up for the test.”
Joshua can be backed at 1.10 to win his fight in Cardiff, while Parker is priced at 7.50 to come out on top, and the draw is available at 26.00.
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