Wilder knocks out Breazeale in first round - reaction

The man with the belt... still.

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Poor old Dominic Breazeale. That punch would have felled a forest.

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Deontay Wilder speaks of Fury and Joshua: "I understand what Fury did. When you get dropped on the canvas like that I understand you have to get yourself back together. The rematch will happen like all the other fights will happen.

"I know people want to know about the Joshua fight. All these fights are in discussion. No doors are closed.

"All parties involved are talking. There's too many people and opinions involved. It will take our teams to sit down, handle things, squash everything and get it done for the fans.

"The big fights will happen the way we all benefit. We risk our lives in here, so let us get our time to iron out our differences and you guys will know when it happens."

WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder speaks to Showtime: "Everything came out of me tonight. I know it's been a big build-up, a lot of animosity, chaos and hatred to one another, a lot of words said. It just came out tonight.

"This is what makes boxing great. When you have stuff to overcome.

"I've told him I love him and I want to see him go home to his family. I know we say things we mean sometimes but when you get into a fight and settle your differences, if you can then hug him and kiss him, I wish the world was like that, handle things with our hands and then live to see another day."

Dominic Breazeale was out like a star fish on the canvas.

He tried getting up but couldn't beat the count. A knockout Deontay Wilder will talk up all the way to his next big pay day.

It kind of shows how well Tyson Fury did to avoid and survive that power in December. Take nothing from Wilder, he is inch by inch winning people over from a fighting perspective, though his words upset a few this week.

We will hear him speak shortly.

Dear me. That was a hectic 140 seconds or so.

Wilder got his range, tagged his man and had him cornered, only for Dominic Breazeale to find a shot which wobbled the champion.

From there they paused for seconds and one truly devastating right hand wiped out Breazeale. He fell down like a pancake on the canvas. That shot would have taken out Godzilla.

Inside one round, I make it 2 minutes and 20 seconds. A 20th first round knockout victory.

That's a statement.

We are off and running at the Barclays Center and a right hand is thrown by Deontay Wilder, catching some of the guard.

Wilder in black and gold shorts. Dominic Breazeale in a stripey number.

Solid start from the champion as he throws a few and gets more guard. Breazeale shakes his head but this looks ominous...

Wilder backs him up.... trouble... but a wild swing from Breazeale and WILDER TAKES A BIG ONE...

One minute left....

"The reigning and defending, undefeated, heavyweight champion of the world, introducing the Bronze Bomber, Deontay Wilder...."

Jimmy Lennon Jr's work is done for now.

It's on like Donkey Kong...

Wilder's outfit is removed, the lights are dimmed and Jimmy Lennon Jr just does his "it's showtime" shout.

Dominic Breazeale beats his chest as his name gets read and throws a few punches. Virgil Hunter - trainer of Amir Khan - stands alongside him and looks focused.

"Introducing the challenger, Dominic 'Trouble' Breazeale", cries Lennon Jr.

I can tell you Matt Macklin - the former British middleweight champion working for Sky - thinks this is over inside four.

I think there is actually a guy employed in the Wilder corner just to take his outfit off him. Someone just offered a hand and they were told not to get involved. That's how full on things are.

So Deontay Wilder's ring walk is typically different if that makes sense. It's very much artistic.

Some guys do a dance while wearing gas masks. Phil Collins' 'In the Air Tonight' son plays - well, a remix version - and now after a while, Wilder emerges to walk to the ring.

He has a full body suit on, a mask and a crown.

So that's gas masks, smoke, tunes, dancing men, crowns, masks, gloves. Yep, the full monty.

Dominic Breazeale walks to the ring first. Some kind of hip hop I'm not familiar with.

He's not smiling and neither does he look too shaky. There's a touch of nerves in his face as he looks up ahead at the ring. The crowd is thick, the smart phones are up and at last he makes it to the ring.

Here we go, it's ring walk time...

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As you'll have seen, Deontay Wilder has been wild this week, going beyond what's acceptable and talking about how he wants "a body" on his record.

It's the latest in a bad blood rivalry with Dominic Breazeale.

The pair had a scuffle in a hotel back in 2017, when Breazeale claimed Wilder's brother punched him in front of his wife and kids. Anyway, whatever happened, it's left little love between these two.

"There are so many things I have said and I mean every word," Wilder said on Thursday. "This has been a long time coming to him. He asked for this and he shall receive.

"The closest you'll get to this belt is in your dreams. You will feel it though, my actions speak louder than my words. When they get in the ring with me, it's more than a boxing match. This is not a game. I'm not in this business to make friends."