2023-12-23 21:25:00
The American Deontay Wilder, one of the most feared boxers in heavyweight history, appeared very pale in a defeat that few would have predicted against New Zealander Joseph Parker on Saturday in the mega boxing card’Day of Reckoning‘ presented in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia..
Wilder suffered only a third career defeat, and this one couldn’t be clearer, as we saw him take the vast majority of blows in each of the 12 attacks.
The scores given by the judges confirm Parker’s remarkable domination: 120-108, 118-111 and 118-110, all to the advantage of the underdog.
After a period of observation, the fight came alive in the fourth round when Parker placed his first attacks, before redoubled blows in the eighth against an opponent cornered in a corner of the ring, without solution.
Already, after nine engagements, Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) had managed to give himself a priority of 44-17 in the column of power shots having hit the target.
With hindsight, we can deduce that the last chapter of Wilder’s triology (43-3-1, 42 KOs) against Tyson Fury, in October 2021, left its mark for “ The Bronze Bomber ».
Indeed, the American had only competed in one round since he last faced Fury, while Parker, conversely, was on his fourth outing in the arena in 2023.
Parker’s last appearance came at the end of October, against Quebecer Simon Kean, whom he knocked out. from the third round, also in Saudi Arabia.
“I have a lot of respect for Wilder but we trained really hard for this,” commented Parker, who trains with Fury. “It’s huge and he’s the best opponent I’ve ever faced,” he said again on the broadcaster’s microphone. DAZN.
In the main fight, Briton Anthony Joshua will face Otto Wallin.
Before this setback for the American that few expected, a confrontation between Wilder and Joshua that had been discussed for several years was anticipated, on March 9, 2024, according to the ESPN network.
The performance of the first will very possibly thwart the plans of promoter Eddie Hearn.
Parker is also a former champion of the division; it was in 2016, when he held the WBO crown for two defenses, before losing to Joshua in 2018.
Bivol returns in force 13 months later
Earlier in the gala, Russian Dmitry Bivol successfully defended his WBA and IBF light heavyweight crowns.
One of the best fighters in the world pound for pound, Bivol recorded a 22nd victory in as many outings – and an 11th requiring a judges’ decision – when he took care of Briton Lyndon Arthur at the Kingom Arena.
The judges’ verdict was not only unanimous, but it was also exactly the same. Thus, Bivol benefited from three cards largely to his advantage, 120-107, in his first fight in 13 months, the result of an operation on his right hand.
Arthur (23-2-0, 16 KOs) suffered a second career setback, after the one suffered by his compatriot Anthony Yarde in December 2021.
At the start of the gala, adopted Montrealer Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) suffered the first defeat of his professional career, falling three times to the mat before losing by KO. in front of the German Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) from the fourth round.
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