Deontay Wilder has retained the WBC heavyweight title with a seventh-round knockout of challenger Luis Ortiz in Las Vegas.
In a repeat of their 2018 fight, the American fighter soaked up pressure from his older Cuban opponent, before sending him to the canvas with a straight right hand to the forehead.
Ortiz was on his feet before the end of the count, but was still shaky and the referee called an end to proceedings.
The decision was a tough one for the 40-year old Ortiz, who had made all the running in the early rounds.
The result takes Wilder's record to 42-0-1 and sets him up for a February date with Tyson Fury, the undefeated British boxer he drew with in Los Angeles almost a year ago.
"After that, I am looking for a unification bout," Wilder said. "I want one champion, one face, one name and he goes by the name Deontay Wilder."
Reuters
