Joseph Parker shocked the world by beating Deontay Wilder to a unanimous points victory in Saudi Arabia.
Their heavyweight clash went all 12 rounds on Saturday evening, with the judges scoring the bout 118-111, 120-108, 120-108 in the Kiwi’s favour.
Parker was overcome with emotion after his hand was raised in the air, with trainer Andy Lee picking the heavyweight up and spinning him around.
Speaking after the fight, Parker said: ‘Everyone had plans, other plans, but this is God’s plan… Tyson Fury, thanks for all your help, I appreciate it a lot.’
Wilder was asked if he did enough to beat Parker, saying: ‘Yeah I did, but my timing was off a little bit. He did a great job avoiding my punches, we make no excuses tonight.’
Joseph Parker shocked the world with a dominant victory over Deontay Wilder on Saturday
Parker used a series of devastating overhand rights to great effect in the bout against Wilder
The Kiwi thought he had ended the bout in the eighth round when he trapped Wilder in the corner and unleashed a flurry of shots
But, how did the fight unfold? There was very little action in the first round. Both boxers were feeling each other out. However, Parker did well to make Wilder work on the back foot.
Round two saw Parker produce higher output, throwing two dangerous overhand rights. However, Wilder did well to dodge and duck them. Parker continued to pressure Wilder in the third – playing him at his own game with his right hand – before unloading a combination on the Bronze Bomber’s body.
Wilder opened the second round with two jabs in quick succession before a Parker took command. Wilder reminded Parker about just how dangerous he is with 29 seconds left on the clock.
Parker threw a lovely combination but left himself exposed to the counter. Wilder took his opportunity and clipped Parker. He stumbled but it wasn’t enough to send him tumbling to the canvas.
It was fireworks in round four. Parker throwing the double jab before lunging in with the right hand on multiple occasions. However, Parker was about a yard out of range meaning he couldn’t cause any real damage.
Wilder did well to respond with a right hand of his own but it was Parker who looked more composed. The Bronze Bomb did manage to connect with a powerful right hand in the sixth, but was guilty of squaring up when navigating around the ring.
Parker responded with a powerful right hand in the seventh round, getting the fans on their feet. Wilder looked land and uppercut just moments later but couldn’t connect.
Parker thought he had done enough in the eighth round. The underdog got wilder in the corner and unleashed a floury of shots.
Wilder was badly hurt and it looked as though his legs had gone beneath him but he managed to make the bell. Wilder survived another round and landed a right hand of his own in the ninth. But, Parker continued to dominate in the 10th despite being clipped with an uppercut in the final 10 seconds.
Parker’s victory over Wilder has not only shocked the world but it may have derailed the Bronze Bomber’s plans to face Anthony Joshua next.
Parker’s victory over Wilder has not only shocked the world but it may have derailed the Bronze Bomber’s plans to face Anthony Joshua next.
Wilder cut a downbeat figure as he was outclassed by the unfancied Parker in Saudi Arabia
Wilder and Joshua had been provisionally pencilled in for March 9 – provided both men emerged victorious from their fights this weekend.
Nevertheless, AJ will still be under pressure to perform later this evening when he faces Otto Wallin. AJ is the favourite heading into this evening’s fight, but the Swedish heavyweight is no pushover.
Wallin tasted defeat just once in his career – against Tyson Fury back in September 2019 – and holds a 26-1 record with an additional fight which ended in a no contest after an opponent suffered a cut from an accidental headbutt.
Fury took the victory by unanimous decision, but the Gypsy King survived a scare after he suffered multiple cuts including a deep wound over his right eye.
Fury needed 47 stitches after the fight, with former undisputed champion Lennox Lewis claiming the ‘most impressive job of the night’ went to the Gypsy King’s cutman after fears the fight could be stopped.
Therefore, Joshua will need to be at his best and use the power on display in his training videos to add another stoppage to his resume.
AJ knocked Helenius out in the seventh round of their bout to secure his first stoppage since Kubrat Pulev in December 2020.
Joshua will be under pressure to produce another knockout performance on Saturday night as his future hinges on the result against Wallin.
Speaking at Thursday’s press conference, AJ said: ‘I know where I’m going in my life but I’ve got to say this is a checkpoint and if I don’t get past this, there is no future so I’m fully locked in to Otto Wallin and doing the job.
‘Pure focus on Saturday, that’s with my heart, soul and every cell in my body is focused on Otto Wallin and knowing what I can do.’
