This is a preview of Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker – click here for full results, report and scorecards from their showdown in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Deontay Wilder is absolute box office every time he steps into a boxing ring, and he returns with a huge showdown vs Joseph Parker just before Christmas in Saudi Arabia.
The former WBC world heavyweight champion and devastating knockout artist has not been out since October 2022, when he put paid to Robert Helenius inside a round in Brooklyn.
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That was Wilder’s first dance since that trilogy of fights against Tyson Fury – which handed the man from Tuscaloosa, Alabama the only two defeats of his professional career so far.
Date and time: When is Wilder vs Parker?
Wilder vs Parker heads an incredible ‘Day of Reckoning’ card (more on that to come) which is set for Saturday December 23, 2023.
The bout takes place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia and ring walks are expected to be around 2130-2200 UK time (that is 1630-1700 Eastern Standard Time in the United States and 1330-1400 PST).
Watch Live: TV channel and live stream
That ‘Day of Reckoning’ bill – topped by Wilder vs Parker and Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin – will be streamed live by DAZN PPV and TNT Sports Box Office in the UK and DAZN PPV the United States.
The show will be charged as an additional pay-per-view (PPV) in certain key markets and included as part of a DAZN subscription in others.
- US + Canada: 39.99 USD
- UK: 19.99 GBP
- Rest of the world: 21.99 USD in local currency
Prices include all tax (if applicable).
Latest odds
UK bookmakers have Wilder as a strong favourite at 1/5 with Parker the 9/2 underdog and the Draw priced at 40/1.
US sportsbooks have Joshua at -560 (bet $560 to win $100) with Wallin +450 (bet $100 to win $450) and the Draw +2200.
Wilder vs Parker weights
The weigh-in for Wilder vs Parker took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Friday December 22, 2023. Wilder scaled just 213lbs – the second lightest of his career, and a whopping 25lbs less than for the 2021 trilogy fight vs Tyson Fury.
Parker meanwhile scaled 245.3lbs, 10 pounds lighter than he was for his most recent defeat – by Joe Joyce in 2022.
Deontay Wilder record
Wilder – now 38 years old – has explosive knockout power and a professional record to match. His resume stands at 43-2-1 – 43 wins, two defeats and a draw in 46 bouts in the paid ranks. An astonishing 42 of Wilder’s 43 wins have come inside distance
Deontay claimed the WBC heavyweight title with the only points victory of his pro career against Bermane Stiverne in 2015, and he would defend that title 10 times. That run included back-to-back wins over Luis Ortiz and a draw with Fury in the first of their three bouts. Famously, Wilder had Fury down twice in that Los Angeles showdown in late 2018, the second time in Round 12 appeared to have put the Englishman to sleep. But he somehow got up to claim a share of the spoils on the scorecards.
Wilder lost his title in February 2020 as he was demolished by Fury in their Las Vegas rematch, and he then showed great bravery and cojones before going out on his shield via an 11th-round KO loss in their trilogy fight in October 2021. Again, Wilder had put ‘The Gypsy King’ on the floor twice but both times, Fury got up.
Joseph Parker record
The 31-year-old New Zealander Joseph Parker is the former WBO heavyweight champion of the world, and he possesses a professional record of 33-3 – 33 wins and three defeats in 36 fights in the pro ranks.
The 6ft 4inch Kiwi claimed that world title with a majority decision victory over the dangerous Andy Ruiz Jr in 2016, and he would defend it twice before losing for the first time in a unification match vs Anthony Joshua in Cardiff, Wales in March 2018. Parker though acquitted himself well before dropping a decision to the Englishman.
Parker then lost again – dropping a unanimous decision to Dillian Whyte in London in July 2018 – before returning to winning ways. His most recent loss was a brutal knockout at the hands of yet another British fighter (Joe Joyce) in Manchester in September 2022.
Since then Parker has won three times against lesser opposition as he works his way back to the top. Now he faces the absolute acid test against the devastating knockout power of the ‘Bronze Bomber’ Wilder.
Wilder vs Parker undercard
Wow, where do we start. This might be the biggest heavyweight bill in boxing history.
‘The Day of Reckoning’ in Riyadh on Saturday December 23 will see a host of the world’s top heavyweights fighting on the same card.
As well as Wilder vs Parker, we have the following popcorn-worthy matchups:
Anthony Joshua (26-3) vs Otto Wallin (26-1)
Joshua bids to take a step closer to the summit of the heavyweight division once again with an intriguing pre-Christmas matchup against dangerous Swede Wallin. The pair head a mouthwatering card on a night when AJ could set up a blockbusting showdown with Deontay Wilder in 2024. Wallin will be no pushover though – remember he took a certain Tyson Fury to the brink when had ‘The Gypsy King’ badly cut in their Las Vegas showdown in September 2019.
Filip Hrgovic (16-0) vs Mark De Mori (41-2-2)
Hrgovic has been one of the most avoided men in the heavyweight division in recent years, and he gets another chance to impress on a big night when he features on the Joshua vs Wallin/Wilder vs Parker undercard in Saudi. Hrgovic of course defeated Zhilei Zhang last year, a performance which drew criticism at the time. But after ‘Big Bang’ notched back-to-back wins over the aforementioned Joyce, it now looks pretty impressive for the Croatian star.
Daniel Dubois (19-2) vs Jarrell Miller (26-0-1)
Dubois returns to the ring after that unsuccessful world heavyweight title challenge against Usyk back in August. ‘Dynamite’ appeared to be on the brink of a famous win when he decked Usyk with a body shot, but it was ruled a low blow. Now he must start to rebuild again, with a bout vs ‘Big Baby’ Miller in Riyadh.
Frank Sanchez (23-0) vs Junior Fa (20-2)
That incredible Riyadh card features YET ANOTHER major heavyweight contender in the shape of ‘Cuban Flash’ Sanchez. Frank has looked mighty impressive in building a perfect 23-0 resume so far, including a highly competent defeat of another exciting young heavy in Efe Ajagba in October 2021. Now Sanchez gets a chance to feature on another major card with a showdown vs Fa – who has dropped two of his last three in defeats to Parker and Lucas Browne.
Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-0) vs Agit Kabayel (23-0)
ANOTHER huge heavyweight showdown on that monumental card between two contenders in boxing’s marquee weight class. Both men are unbeaten and looking to take the next step on their journey to potential title shots.
