Photos: Joseph Parker Rises To Occasion, Shocks Deontay Wilder To Halt Joshua Clash

Riyadh, Saudi Arabia – In a heavyweight clash between former world champions, Joseph Parker (37-3, 23 KOs) pulled off a huge upset with a twelve round unanimous decision over Deontay Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs). (photos by Mark Robinson)

The scores were 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108.

Wilder was coming back after only having a single round of action since 2021. Parker, far more active, was taking part in his fourth fight of 2023.

The upset win by Parker has seemingly derailed planned fight between Wilder and Anthony Joshua for the first quarter of 2024.

The fight began with Wilder circling the ring as Parker was holding the center. It was a very cautious start by both with very little being thrown. Parker connected with a right hand that Wilder took well. In the second, more of the same with Parke pressing and Wilder circling around and looking for a counter.  In the third, Parker was starting to take more changes with Wilder starting to get more active with his hands when Parker would enter inside. A hard jab pushed Wilder back. 

The fourth saw them exchange big right hands. Parker was starting to force exchanges and gaining confidence to press forward. In the fifth, Parker continued to be the aggressor and was taking the fight to Wilder, who wasn’t throwing that much. The sixth was closer, with Parker still pressing forward and doing most of the work. Wilder was starting to get more active with his hands. 

In the seventh, Wilder finally connected with a big right that Parker took well. But a moment later Parker connected with big right that caused Wilder to stumble back. The eight began with Parker jabbing to the body to get inside. Some fierce exchanges where Wilder landed solid shots that Parker took well and continued to come forward. Parker rocked Wilder badly with a big right. He then unloaded on Wilder with numerous shots and had the puncher rocked bad. Wilder weathered the storm as the bell rang.

The ninth had Parker pushing the pace and doing most of the work, with Wilder not doing much of anything. In the tenth, Wilder began to let his hands go and was trying to get himself back in the fight. There wasn’t much landed by either man until the end where Parker landed a right hand. 

During the eleventh, both were shooting the jab in spots. The jab of Parker was moving Wilder at times. A three punch combination pushed Wilder back. In the twelfth and final round, they began the fight by exchanging punches. Wilder was going after Parker and letting his hands go. Parker was holding to kill the clock and staying away from Wilder’s power. Parker landed a solid right that Wilder took well and then Parker landed another.