Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is unsure of his boxing future after suffering the third defeat of his career.
The 38-year-old boxer returned on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia, in a high-stakes clash against former WBO champion Joseph Parker.
Entering the ring, Wilder had only seen a single round of action since the 2021 trilogy loss to Tyson Fury.
Wilder was not very active in the contest and never let his hands go, as Parker was coming forward and landing solid right hands for most of the contest.
During the eight, Wilder was rocked badly by a big right hand, but managed to weather the storm.
After twelve rounds were complete, Parker came away with a dominant unanimous decision. The scores were 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108.
Wilder left the door open for a ring return – but he also hinted at potential retirement.
“We’ll see what happens, we still have a little bit left, but I did a great job managing my money. I’m a happy fighter. I’ll be back, and if not, then it’s been a pleasure. I don’t know [if I still have the same fire I used to], a lot has calmed me down,” Wilder said.
“I’ve been wearing this smile all week long and I’m still going to wear it. Nothing can stop me on that.”
The victory was huge setback for Wilder, as a deal was in place for a long-awaited showdown with career rival Anthony Joshua. The fight was slated to take place in March of 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Joshua headlined Saturday’s event and battered top contender Otto Wallin over five rounds for a stoppage victory.