Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker full fight preview and predictions ahead of today’s (Sat., Dec. 23, 2023) Heavyweight fight inside Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, streaming live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV).

Saudi Arabia’s boxing takeover continues today (Sat., Dec. 23, 2023) when a swath of top-level Heavyweight prize fighters hit Kingdom Arena in Riyadh for “Day of Reckoning,” which will stream live on DAZN pay-per-view (PPV) with a special 11 a.m. ET start time.

The featured attractions see Anthony Joshua battle Otto Wallin (preview here) and Deontay Wilder meet Joseph Parker, with plans already reportedly in place to pit “AJ” against “The Bromze Bomber” in March should both men emerge victorious (details here).

That’s easier said than done, though; let’s see if Wilder has what it takes to secure another blockbuster opportunity …

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Deontay “Bronze Bomber” Wilder

Age: 38
Record: 43-2-1 (42 KO)
Last Five Fights: Robert Helenius (KO-1), Tyson Fury (TKO-7 Loss), Luis Ortiz (KO-7), Dominic Breazeale (KO-1), Tyson Fury (Split Draw)
Significant Victories (other than those mentioned above): Luis Ortiz, Bermane Stiverne (x2)

VS.

Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Joseph Parker

Age: 31
Record: 33-3 (23 KO)
Last Five Fights: Simon Kean (KO-3), Faiga Opelu (TKO-1), Jack Massey (UD), Joe Joyce (KO-11 Loss), Derek Chisora (UD)
Significant Victories (other than those mentioned above): Derek Chisora, Junior Fa, Hughie Fury, Andy Ruiz, Carlos Takam

THE FIGHT

“Wilder by devastating knockout” is the knee-jerk response here. Parker is a historical underachiever who’s hit the deck on multiple occasions, most infamously at the hands of Joe Joyce just last year. It seems inevitable that Wilder will once again uncork his right hand and send Parker’s head careening into the dunes.

I just can’t shake the feeling that this won’t follow the script.

Let’s start with age and rust. Parker’s a spry 31 and already fought three times this year, winning a surprisingly tough decision over Jack Massey before torching Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean. Wilder, by contrast, turned 38 a couple months back and has less than three minutes of ring time in the last two years. He’s always been a low-volume puncher by nature, and in my experience, fighters like that don’t get freer with their hands as they age.

On top of that, Parker has the fastest hands of any Wilder opponent to date and is fleeter of foot than any of them save Fury. Joyce got to him eventually, sure, but Wilder’s not an attrition fighter.

There’s every chance that Wilder just boops him out of existence like he’s done to dozens of others. There’s just so much working against him that I have to follow my gut. In the end, Parker stays patient and out-works a gunshy Wilder en route to the upset win.

Prediction: Parker via unanimous decision

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For more on “Day of Reckoning” and other boxing-related news and notes, click here.