Malik Scott, head trainer for former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder, gave high praise to Joseph Parker for his big win on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The 38-year-old Wilder, who snapped a 14 month layoff, was never able to let his hands go and seemed to be tentative to pull the trigger.
Parker, also a former world champion, was taking part in his fourth fight of the year.
The New Zealand fighter kept Wilder at bay for most of the contest and stayed away from the big puncher’s counters.
He managed to hurt Wilder badly in the eight round, but the Olympic bronze medal winner was able to weather the storm.
When the smoke finally cleared, Parker was awarded a lopsided twelve round unanimous decision from the judges.
Additionally, the unexpected victory would derail a planned fight between Wilder and Anthony Joshua – which promoters had already set down for March of 2024 in Saudi Arabia.
Scott was impressed with the strategy by Parker and head trainer Andy Lee.
“Bad night in the office. First of all, Joseph Parker and Andy Lee, they had a hell of a game plan. Joseph Parker’s chin wasn’t over his front, a couple of times he was heavy-footed I thought that Deontay could continue to be patient, jab and make him run into something, but his chin never went over his front. He fought methodical,” Scott told ES News.
“He had a game plan and he stuck to it. The best man won, congratulations to Joseph Parker. I’ve got nothing but genuine love and respect for him. He’s one of the best heavyweights in the world. There wasn’t no shame in losing to Joseph Parker.
“We had an awful night. There’s a few things that he could’ve done more of, he could’ve done right. He came out of his base a lot. His chin came up a few times. The jab, it wasn’t filling blank spaces. “[There were] times in the fight nothing was going on, and that was good for Parker, not good for Deontay.”