Boxing: Deontay Wilder survives scare to stop Luis Ortiz, talks up Joseph Parker

Deontay Wilder poses after knocking out Luis Ortiz. Photo / Getty

Deontay Wilder, the WBC heavyweight world champion who survived a torrid test at the hands of Luis Ortiz today, believes Kiwi Joseph Parker can beat Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in their unification bout.

That fight at Millennium Stadium, on April 1, perhaps takes on even greater significance after Wilder's dramatic victory over the previously unbeaten Ortiz in Brooklyn, New York.

Many believe it will be Joshua who emerges victorious to fight Wilder in what will be a blockbusting bout to unite all five recognised world titles, but the American's not so sure.

And after he was perhaps one punch away from being knocked down for the first time in his professional career, Wilder knows more than ever not to take anything for granted.

One thing is for certain - a fight between either Joshua or Parker, and Wilder will be the biggest in professional boxing this year and the eyes of the world will be on it.

After putting Ortiz down in the fifth round, Wilder was on the receiving end of a barrage of punches at the end of the seventh, and was lucky to survive to the bell.

To his credit, he recovered well after pacing himself through the eighth and ninth and in the 10th that renowned power in his right hand sent down the big Cuban twice, the second time with a big uppercut for the victory.

In a chaotic aftermath, and after he declared himself "the most dangerous man in the world" and the "baddest man on the planet", the American was asked whether Parker could beat Joshua.

"I think Parker has 100 per cent got a chance of winning that fight," he said. "He's just got to be smart and stick with the game plan.

"This game is not about how much a person weighs, it's not about how big a person's muscles are, it's all about that heart they're going to bring to the fight. You've got to believe in yourself."

Wilder's belief was incredible. Ortiz, 38, had a far longer amateur career than Wilder and the southpaw created problems for the champion with his head movement and ability to duck the heavy artillery coming his way.

But as we have seen so often in his career, Wilder, 32, has the ultimate get-out-of-jail card in his right hand and it saved him again.

He received more punishment in this fight than in any other, but still won with another knockout, his 39th in 40 professional fights.