WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder set his sights on Anthony Joshua after defending his world title with a brutal first-round knockout of Dominic Breazeale in New York.

The American sent Breazeale crashing to the canvas with a steamroller right hand just two minutes and 17 seconds into the opener at the Barclays Center.

The devastating knockout extended the 33-year-old’s unbeaten record to 41 wins and a draw from 42 bouts.

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Wilder, who drew with Tyson Fury in his last fight in December, and unbeaten WBO, WBA and IBF champion Joshua have struggled to agree terms on a bout in the past.

But Wilder is adamant they will come face to face in the ring, telling Sky Sports: “It will happen. I believe in all my heart it will happen.

“I don’t want this to be a (Lennox) Lewis and (Riddick) Bowe situation.

  • 42 fights
  • 41 wins
  • One draw
  • 40 knockouts

“The heavyweight division is so lit right now, it’s so on fire now, and I have an obligation to give the fans what they want. I always say how we can try, but it is going to come back around.

“And the next time it does, the discussion, the deal that me and Joshua are trying to make, then I think something is going to get done.

“Like I tell people, I just want them to have patience, and comes patience comes time. Let us have moments and let us do what we do. When things go silent, that’s when the magic happens.”

Fans watch a replay of Deontay Wilder knocking out Dominic Breazeale
Fans watch a replay of Deontay Wilder knocking out Dominic Breazeale (Frank Franklin II/AP)

Wilder also believes a rematch with Fury is on the cards.

Despite two knockdowns, many felt Fury had outboxed Wilder only for the fight to end in a controversial draw.

“The rematch will happen, like all these other fights will happen,” he said. “The great thing is all these fights are in discussion. The big fights will happen.”