On Saturday night, heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, 39-0 with 38 knockouts, defends his World Boxing Council crown against Luis Ortiz, 28-0 with 24 knockouts, at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn.
Wilder defends his crown for the seventh time since taking it in a 2015 decision over Berman Stiverne, who ironically replaced Ortiz in the fight last year and was knocked out in the first round.
Beyond Ortiz, Joshua wants to get his hands on IBF, IBO, WBA heavyweight world champion Anthony Joshua of the UK. Joshua returns to the ring on March 31, when he defends his title in a unification with WBO champion Joseph Parker at Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.
"I'm ready for whoever," Wilder said. "Anthony Joshua will barely even mention my name. Well, I'm here and I'm ready for him. I'm the best in the world. I've been saying it for years. Here is a big test. I'm going to pass this test with flying colors.
"I see a third round knockout. I will knock him out and then I will unify the division. I'm on a mission. There will be one champion, one face and one name. Deontay Wilder."
Ortiz, nicknamed "King Kong," tested possible for banned diuretics that can be used as masking agents but was given another chance by Wilder because he said he wants to fight the best rivals available.
"He's considered the bogey man of the division," Wilder said. "A lot of men have dodged Luis Ortiz, even champions have avoided him and a lot of people considered him one of the best. I consider him one of the best too.
"He says he's the 'Real King Kong' but 'King Kong' knows what happens when he comes to New York."
Should Wilder win, he will be ringside for the Joshua-Parker showdown to call out the winner.
