Kia ora and welcome to our live updates of Deontay Wilder putting his WBC heavyweight belt on the line against Luis Ortiz in Brooklyn.
Somebody's 'O' has to go today as the two undefeated heavy-hitters square off for a chance to move to the top of the queue to face the Parker vs Joshua winner to unify all four of the division's major titles.
We bring you live streaming written commentary, video highlights, and all the action. VIDEO of the main event will be available shortly after the conclusion of the fight. Be sure to refresh your browser.
Commentary will start from around 4:20pm (NZT).
Deontay Wilder defeats Luis Ortiz via TKO in the 10th round - Watch the finish of the fight in the video above.
"King Kong ain't got nothing on me!" screams Wilder into the mic post-fight.
The Bronze Bomber completes a startling win and underlines himself as the most powerful puncher in the heavyweight division. Ortiz fought a clinical fight but couldn't put the stamp on it when he was quite likely ahead on the judge's scorecards, leaving the smallest window open for Wilder to jump straight through with some lethal finishing shots. The American dug deep when he needed to in what was an excellent fight.
Round 10 - Ortiz connects with a left but it's Wilder with the heavy right counter which sends Ortiz to his knee! Wilder swoops for the kill, Ortiz being starched with shot-after-shot. One final overhand right finds its mark and the timber begins to fall, in steps the referee and this one is over!
Round 9 - Ortiz continues to target the body of Wilder and continues to land. Chants of "Wilder!" ring through the Barclays Center as Ortiz approaches with double-jab, straight left combo. Big straight right from Wilder staggers Ortiz! The American rushes forward but can't find the target on the follow-up shots and the bell sounds.
Round 8 - Ortiz moves in aggressively to start, Wilder back into a corner again as he eats shots to the body. Both men starting to tire now after a frantic couple of rounds. Ortiz starches Wilder with a straight left as the American retreats, Ortiz looks to close the distance, the Cuban forcing all the action. The two exchange straight rights to close the round. Ortiz is surely ahead on the scorecards now.
Round 7 - Slower start to this one for both fighters. Wilder's speed advantage coming to the fore now as he tags Ortiz with consecutive straight right hands. Ortiz throws inside and lands some huge shots! Wilder is backed into the corner and eating all manner of blows, Ortiz mixing it up with uppercuts and heavy overhands, no idea how the Bronze Bomber is still standing here! The bell comes to the rescue for Wilder and we have a fight on our hands here.
Round 6 - Wilder starts calmly, he's wisely avoiding blitzing for the finish. Wilder goes back-to-back with the one-two and lands cleanly, he's well and truly found his rhtym now. Left hook to the body of Ortiz, his output has lifted considerably. Wilder slings a heavy right hand, Ortiz somehow shakes it off. The momentum is all with the American now.
Round 5 - The older Ortiz still looking fresh as we near the midway point. Heavy uppercut inside after the straight right and Wilder tries to smile it off, a clear indication that he felt those shots. Ortiz growing in confidence as Wilder struggles to get a read on the southpaw. Straight right from Wilder and he lunges in looking for the body shot. Huge straight right from Wilder sends the Cuban to the canvas! The referee steps in for the count but Ortiz seems to have shaken it off and the bell sounds as Wilder rushes in for the kill.
Round 4 - Wilder connects with the straight right, then follows with stiff jab. Wilder starting to sit down on some shots now, looks the more comfortable fighter. Ortiz catches him with a big straight left and the crowd gasps, and up they go again as the Cuban lands the best punch of the fight so far. Ortiz backs Wilder into a corner and unleashes a flurry, nothing lands clean. Solid round for the Cuban.
Round 3 - Wilder pops Ortiz with a jab to open, avoiding Ortiz's counters with some deft footwork. Wilder goes to Ortiz's mid-section, the fans beginning to boo as the action stalls. Both fighters struggling to connect cleanly, a cautious approach each way in what are some difficult rounds to score.
Round 2 - Wilder looking to establish his own jab now, using his range well as he tags Ortiz with a double. Ortiz swings hard with over-hand right and slips to the canvas, crowd goes up but the referee confirms there was no shot involved. Ortiz comes straight back with a body shot. Wilder still trying to find a rhythm.
Round 1 - Ortiz pumps the jab early, looking to find his range. Catches Wilder with a straight left. Wilder looking light on his feet, making a measured start, clearly wary of the strong counter punching of Ortiz. One-two seconds out from the bell lands clean for Ortiz, nice start for the underdog. Ortiz lunges with a straight left to the body again which lands, trying to slow the American down and rattle his base. Wilder counters with a wild right-hook that catches Ortiz at the bell.
4:43pm - Here we go....
4:41pm - Wilder draws by far the biggest cheer upon introduction. 39 wins, 38 KOs, it's quite the record. Can he become the first man to ever finish Ortiz?
4:39pm - Lennon Jr. begins to reel off a shost of sponsors as Wilder paces about the ring looking like an "Eyes Wide Shut" extra.
4:35pm - "The Champ is here!" shouts what looks to be Lil Kim, leading Wilder into the ring. Wow, Kim's really had some work done.
4:33pm - Jimmy Lennon Jr. takes the mic and makes the first introduction as "King Kong" strolls to the center as stern as ever. Rumours pre-fight are that the Cuban is fighting with a borken hand today.
4:31pm - Who are you picking to become the probable next-in-line for either Joseph Parker or Anthony Joshua? Have your say in the Kiwi's own twitter poll.
4:30pm - Wilder has donned his trademark bronze mask as he awaits his entrance in the Nets' locker-room. No sign as yet of the challenger Ortiz.
4:25pm - The Barclay Center is primed and ready as shots of the Bronze Bomber preparing for his walk to the ring flash upon the Jumbotron.
Fight odds
Deontay Wilder - $1.27 Luis Ortiz - $3.50
Undercard
Day defeats Davis to retain WBC Continental Americas super welterweight strap.
Napoelon defeats Hermans to secure the women's WBA super middleweight title.
Russell defeats Freeman via second-round TKO.
Derevyanchenko defeats Johnson via sixth-round TKO.
Hitchins defeats Stanford via second-round TKO.
Pre-match banter
Parker vs Joshua: Eddie Hearn claims Deontay Wilder is 'an easier fight' than Kiwi champion
Newshub Staff
Heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua sees Joseph Parker as a tougher challenge than Deontay Wilder, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn.
There's plenty of talk about a showdown between Joshua and Wilder even with the Parker fight still to come on April 1st (NZ time).
WBC champion Wilder squares off against Cuban Luis Ortiz in New York on Sunday (NZ time) and if the 32-year-old wins, he will face off against the winner of Parker and Joshua later in the year.
Parker will face Joshua in a unification bout for the Kiwi's WBO title, and the Brit's IBF and WBA crowns at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
"Make no mistake, I was with Anthony Joshua this morning, he wants to fight Deontay Wilder. He sees that as an easier fight potentially than the Joseph Parker fight," Hearn told Sky Sports UK.
"The plan is to become undisputed heavyweight champion of the world. He's got to deal with Parker first on March 31, it's a tough fight.
"After that, Deontay is coming to Cardiff, we can sit down, we can get that fight made. No problems from our side."
Wilder has held the WBC title since 2015 and has won all 39 of his professional fights, with only one of those victories being by a point's decision.
Due to the impressive record, Wilder is requesting a 50-50 split, something that Hearn won't give the American.
"Wilder was talking about he wants a 50-50 split. This is ridiculous, we're going to have three belts, he's got one.
"He's doing his thing in America. Now he's saying that he will take any split, as long as that split is reversed in the rematch. No problem with that. Again, pick up the phone, call me Deontay. It's very easy, we can get it done over a cup of tea and a slice of cake.
"America is fine. We'll do two fights. There are loads of different ways we can do the fight, but let's just get it made."
Wilder has accused Hearn of "milking the cow" by avoiding him and taking much easier fighters.
"Talking of milking the cow, I think Deontay's got a chip on his shoulder because his udders are dry," Hearn said.
"He's making very small money and needs a new promoter. I don't think he has a promoter at the moment, so if he doesn't - Deontay just pick up the phone, drop me a line. We'll get this AJ fight, we'll make you some real money.
"He's WBC champion, he's a great fighter, who is a great personality. But for this camp he's been like a one-man salesman, just travelling around the globe, trying to sell his own fight. He should be in camp. This (Ortiz) is a proper fight, his first real test."
Newshub.
