Deontay Wilder ‘ready’ for Anthony Joshua after knocking out Luis Ortiz

Joshua looks to add the WBO title to his IBF and WBA straps against Parker this month

Wilder retained his WBC title on Saturday night (Getty)

Deontay Wilder has announced he is “ready” to fight Anthony Joshua in a heavyweight unification bout after beating Luis Ortiz on Saturday night to retain his WBC title.

The American survived a scare in the seventh round to beat his Cuban rival by knockout in the 10^th round having already floored him twice in New York.

Joshua, who holds the IBF and WBA straps, will attempt to claim the WBO title in Cardiff against Joseph Parker on 31 March and Wilder has insisted he wants the Briton next in a fight that, should Joshua win, be for all the heavyweight belts.

Ortiz was knocked out in the 10th round (Getty)

“I want to unify. I am ready whenever those guys are,” said Wilder.

Wilder knocked Ortiz down in the fifth round but the 38-year-old responded with a barrage of his own in the seventh.

“I figured out a way to come back. A true champion always finds a way. That's what I did tonight. He hit me with flurry of punches but it wasn't hard. He knocked me off balance. I just had to get my fundamentals back and I did.”