Deontay Wilder Suffers Decisive Defeat Against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a highly anticipated heavyweight clash, Deontay Wilder suffered his third professional defeat as Joseph Parker earned a unanimous decision victory on December 17th.
The former WBC champion, Wilder, was outclassed throughout the bout, with Parker coming out on top on all three scorecards (118-111, 118-110, 120-108). Wilder, known for his devastating one-punch knockout power, never looked close to living up to his fearsome reputation, in what was a disappointing return to the ring after a 14-month hiatus.
In the co-main event, Anthony Joshua produced his best performance in years, stopping Otto Wallin after five rounds, reviving his own title aspirations.
“I’m back,” declared Parker in the ring, having trained meticulously for this contest. “We had momentum, I was really fit, stayed calm and relaxed. I focused for every minute of every round.”
The New Zealander landed the more consistent shots, working his jab effectively and avoiding Wilder’s dangerous right hand. With this victory, his fourth straight in 2023, Parker has now firmly positioned himself for even bigger fights next year.
Wilder acknowledged Parker’s strong showing, stating, “My timing was off a little bit. Joseph did a great job. No excuses tonight, a good fight, and we move on to the next thing.” The former champion, however, expressed uncertainty about his future, hinting at potential retirement.
In the undercard, pound-for-pound king Dmitry Bivol earned a comfortable points win over Lyndon Arthur, while Daniel Dubois stopped American Jarrell Miller in the final round of their heavyweight clash.
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