Anthony Joshua put in a terrific performance to beat Otto Wallin inside the distance. But Deontay Wilder’s shock points loss to Joseph Parker on the same bill scuppered plans for the long-awaited heavyweight showdown.
Nigerian-Briton Joshua boxed magnificently in Saudi Arabia, dominating Wallin before the Swede’s corner pulled him out of the fight at the end of the fifth.
Earlier in the night, American Wilder appeared a shadow of himself in Riyadh, and was hurt badly in the eighth as New Zealander Parker was awarded a unanimous decision.
“I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back. Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground,” Joshua said.
“You can come back. If he wanted to, he can come back. I’m sure everyone still wants to see that fight.”
Parker, also a former world champion, was awarded a unanimous decision with the judges’ scoring it 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108.
Saudi organisers had already pencilled in the Joshua-Wilder bout for next year. While no contract had been signed, the pair were expected to enter the ring post-fight and announce a deal to fight at some point in early 2024.
Wilder admitted all the talk of a fight at least five years in the making had been “a distraction”, although Joshua more than did his part. After the fight, promoter Eddie Hearn said Joshua is most likely going to face Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic for a vacant IBF world title, bidding to become a three-time world champion.
But as the dust settles in Riyadh, many boxing fans will be cursing their luck, as Joshua v Wilder slips away once again.
Wilder dazed
Wilder a shadow of himself as Parker proves his worth Wilder entered the ring wearing a crown, but it has been almost four years since he reigned over the heavyweight division. The 38-year-old was introduced with his newly acclaimed nickname ‘Dr Sleep’.
After some cagey opening rounds he may have put the crowd to sleep rather than his opponent. The inactive Wilder had boxed just three minutes in the past two years, signs of ring rust were expected. But losing rounds is nothing new to Wilder.
Numerous times before he has looked out of his depth, only to unleash that ferocious right hand. Parker, 31, grew in confidence and traded with Wilder in the fourth, whipping a left hook into the body and hurting Wilder with an exchange on the inside.
Was the ghost of the Tyson Fury trilogy, when Wilder drew one and lost two, haunting him? His timing and judgement of distance was off. Parker came forward with bursts. In between rounds Parker’s trainer, Andy Lee, told his fighter to go after Wilder, that a knockout would come.
“This is your moment,” Lee said.
Wilder enjoyed his best moment in the sixth, landing a right but without the ferocity which has stopped 42 opponents in 43 wins.
Former WBO champion Parker was the busier, more accurate boxer, comfortably winning most rounds. Wilder had no answer for what was to come in the eighth. Parker landed the most thunderous overhand right.
Wilder, backed into the ropes, was in trouble as Parker continued the attack. Saved by the bell, Wilder poked his tongue out as he stumbled back to his corner.
All the while Joshua was getting his hands wrapped and going through warm-ups in the dressing room, unaware of what was unfolding in the ring.
Wilder was telegraphing his right hands as Parker continued to land more cleanly as the fight entered the championship rounds. New Zealand’s Parker was on a run of three straight wins and two knockouts.
He was demonstrating just why many pundits tipped him for the win. For all Parker’s dominance, there was still a puncher’s chance for Wilder. He threw the kitchen sink in the 12th, but missed by an absolute mile.
