Wilder reigns

Meanwhile, in Las Vegas, home favorite Deontay Wilder floored Cuba's Luis Ortiz in the seventh round to retain his WBC world heavyweight title and set up a lucrative rematch with Tyson Fury in February.

The 34-year-old Wilder landed a devastating right hand to end the fight and move a step closer to his goal of unifying all four heavyweight belts with an explosive finish at MGM Grand Hotel.

Unbeaten in 43 fights (42-0-1, 41 KO) and widely regarded as the most destructive puncher in the heavyweight division, the 'Bronze Bomber' recorded his 10th straight title defense, joining Muhammad Ali who did it between 1974 and 1978.

Wilder waited patiently for his big moment and when it came late in the seventh it was stunning. He followed a jab with a crushing straight right that sent Ortiz crashing to the canvas.

Ortiz eventually hauled himself up but clearly could not continue. The fight was officially stopped at 2:51 in the seventh.

This was a rematch of their 2018 fight where Wilder battled through adversity to deliver a 10th-round stoppage.

"My intellect is very high in the ring and no one gives me credit," Wilder said. "I think I buzzed him with a left hook earlier in the round and I took it from there."

Ortiz (31-2) didn't protest the ending, but said he thought he beat the count.

"I was clear-headed when I hit the canvas," he said. "When I heard the referee say seven I was trying to get up but I guess the count went a little quicker than I thought."

Wilder made at least $3 million for the fight, but figures to make much more when he and Fury meet in a Feb 22 rematch of their fight a year ago that ended in a disputed draw.

His win helped clarify the top of the heavyweight division, though, which will be sorted out further when Anthony Joshua and Andy Ruiz Jr. meet on Dec 7 in their title rematch in Saudi Arabia.

"Next we have Tyson Fury in the rematch," Wilder said. "Then I want unification. I want one champion, one face and one heavyweight champion - Deontay Wilder.

"The heavyweight division is too small to have so many belts lingering around. It should be just be one champion and I think I'm the perfect man for that job."

The last two years in heavyweight boxing have provided plenty of rousing matchups and renewed enthusiasm, in contrast to the previous 15 years or so which were dominated by the Klitschko brothers, Wladimir and Vitali.

The 40-year-old Ortiz, who was coming off three straight wins, was trying to become the first Cuban to win the world heavyweight title. "It was a war," he said. "I told everyone it wasn't going to go 12 rounds."