Luis Ortiz scores brutal third-round KO of Matias Ariel Vidondo

Luis Ortiz, right, stayed unbeaten with a crushing knockout of Matias Ariel Vidondo. (Al Bello, Getty Images)

NEW YORK - Luis Ortiz made easy work of Matias Ariel Vidondo and looks ready for a bigger challenge.

The Cuban heavyweight scored two brutal knockdowns of the Argentine, ending matters in the third round Saturday at Madison Square Garden.

Ortiz (23-0, 20 KOs) unleashed a combo that pinballed Vidondo off the ropes and then connected on a series of shots that sent him down to the canvas on his side in Round 2.

Vidondo absorbed a beating, and then early in Round 3, Ortiz leapt with a right hook and followed with a straight left that put his foe down face-first and out. Referee Shada Murdaugh waved the bout off without a count at 0:17 of Round 3.

"I deserve this win and deserve to fight the best," Ortiz said. "Vidondo did hit hard but he wasn't good enough to face me. Everyone can see that I dominated the fight. I want to fight the best and I want Golden Boy Promotions to keep its promise and get me the best.

"I am ready for (Wladimir) Klitschko, I know he is running from me. I am going to come after him. I am just ready to become the heavyweight champion of the world."

Vidondo (20-1-2, 18 KOs) got up after a few seconds and appeared to be OK. He landed just eight punches in the bout, while the 6-foot-4 Ortiz connected on 54 shots.

Ortiz, a decorated amateur who compiled a reported 343-19 record in the unpaid ranks, should move on to a much bigger fighter. He showed great speed at 237.8 pounds, and possesses legit power. There were originally talks to pit him against Bermane Stiverne, but the fight fell apart.

"King Kong" served a suspension for performance-enhancing drug use after a first-round KO of Lateef Kayode in September 2014. That result was overturned to a no contest.