Wilder survives Luiz onslaught to defend heavyweight title

Deontay Wilder made a successful defence of his WBC heavyweight title as he overcame Cuba’s Luis Ortiz with a 10th-round knockout.

American 32-year-old Wilder was meeting what was widely considered his toughest opponent in Ortiz, 38, but improved to 40-0 after his seventh title defence at New York’s Barclays Centre.

Ortiz looked to be in control in the opening round, twice catching the champion with his left hand, but Wilder responded with a jab in the second before being forced into a corner.

From there, the crowd began to grow restless and jeered as Wilder struggled to land his punches in what was a slow start for both fighters.

By the fifth, Wilder finally found Ortiz with a right hand across the face which sent the Cuban to the floor just before the end of the round.

The seventh round almost proved to be the turning point as Ortiz retaliated with massive left hands, putting his opponent on the ropes and continuing the attack into the eighth.

The late thriller continued into the next rounds when a knockout seemed to be Wilder’s only chance of taking the bout, and a huge right uppercut ensured he did in the 10th, sending Ortiz to the mat as the referee waved for the fight to stop.