Today (Saturday, December 23, 2023), a swath of top-level Heavyweight prize boxers hit Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for “Day of Reckoning,” which will stream live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) with a special 11 a.m. ET start time.
The main event pits Anthony Joshua against Otto Wallin (preview here) and Deontay Wilder against Joseph Parker, with arrangements already in place to play “AJ” against “The Bromze Bomber” in March if both men win (details here).
That’s easier said than done; let’s see if Wilder has what it takes to land another blockbuster…
Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder
Age: 38
43-2-1 (42 KO) record
Robert Helenius (KO-1), Tyson Fury (TKO-7 Loss), Luis Ortiz (KO-7), Dominic Breazeale (KO-1) and Tyson Fury (Split Draw) are the last five fighters that have fought.
Significant Victories (other than those already mentioned): Bermane Stiverne (x2) and Luis Ortiz
VS.
Joseph Parker
Age: 31
Record: 33-3 (23 KO)
Last Five Fights: Simon Kean (KO-3), Faiga Opelu (TKO-1), Jack Massey (UD), Joe Joyce (KO-11 Loss), Derek Chisora (UD)
Significant Victories (other than those mentioned above): Derek Chisora, Junior Fa, Hughie Fury, Andy Ruiz, Carlos Takam
THE FIGHT “Wilder by devastating knockout” is the automatic reaction here. Parker is a history underachiever who has been knocked out on many occasions, most notably by Joe Joyce last year. Wilder’s right hand will almost certainly uncork again, sending Parker’s head careening into the sands.
I just can’t shake the feeling that this won’t go as planned.
Let us begin with age and corrosion. Parker, 31, has already fought three times this year, winning a surprisingly close decision over Jack Massey before destroying Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean. Wilder, on the other hand, turned 38 a few months ago and has had fewer than three minutes of ring time in the last two years. He’s always been a low-volume puncher by nature, and guys like that don’t get freer with their hands as they age, in my experience.
Parker also has the fastest hands of any Wilder opponent to date and is faster on his feet than all of them except Fury. Sure, Joyce eventually got to him, but Wilder’s
