Deontay Wilder is one of several heavyweights to have lost to a resurgent Joseph Parker.
Parker is a former WBO champion who claimed the belt after a narrow victory over Andy Ruiz Jr on points back in 2016. In 2018, he attempted to unify his titles against Anthony Joshua. Although he lost, he was the first man to take the Brit the distance.
Since then he has had plenty of ups and downs. He lost to Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce but in the last couple of years, under the tutelage of Andy Lee, has been one of the form men in the division.
He first knocked out Simon Kean in October 2023, then in December beat once fearsome American puncher and former WBC world champion Wilder on points, before doing the same to Zhilei Zhang in March 2024
Wilder has only fought once more since losing to Parker, and ended in a tough fifth round stoppage loss to Zhang last June.
Speaking to 78SportTV, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ was asked to rate Parker’s power after taking some huge overhand rights during their contest, being put on shaky legs but ultimately surviving.
“It wasn’t too much. What made the fight was the punch he got off on me. He caught me in a dazing moment. I knew he was coming with the overhand right which I’d been blocking all night.
“But at some point in time I zoned out for a minute. I don’t know what the f**k happen. Then the punch came, it wasn’t that it hurt, none of his punches phased me, at all, I smiled going back to the corner, but things like that shouldn’t happen.”
Wilder is not yet retired and has said he will return to action sometime this year, although no firm plans are in place and a recent comeback attempt collapsed.
Though he has earned his shot at a world title, he may have to face another top contender as IBF Champion Daniel Dubois – who pulled out of their fight due to illness before Bakole stepped in – and Oleksandr Usyk are heading towards an undisputed fight.
