wIlDeR Vs pArKeR
Wark Teem
Deontay Wilder returns to the ring looking to put on a show against Joseph Parker as part of a massive card to end 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Click Here To Watch Wilder vs Parker Live For Free
The Wilder fight will serve as the co-main event with Anthony Joshua fighting Otto Wallin. If all goes according to plan, the card will set up an even bigger fight between Wilder and Joshua on March 9, 2024, per boxing insider Dan Rafael.
That will certainly give Wilder a little added motivation against an opponent who is not as accomplished as himself. On the other hand, Parker will look to play the role of spoiler and ruin the heavyweight superfight.
With Joshua on the card and a light heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Lyndon Arthur, there's plenty of competition for who is going to stand out.
Here's a look at all the info you need to catch the card and a closer look at this heavyweight co-main event.
When: Saturday, December 23 at 11 a.m. ET (ringwalk approximately 5:35 p.m. ET)
Where: Riyadh's Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Live stream: DAZN
Odds: Wilder -650 (wager $650 to win $100), Parker +450 ($100 bet wins $450)
Odds via DraftKings Sportsbook
What Kind of Shape is Wilder In?
It's been a long time since we've seen Deontay Wilder in the ring in a way where he is pushed. He's only fought once since his October 2021 loss to Tyson Fury and that was a first-round knockout win over Robert Helenius.
It was a good reminder of the one-punch knockout power that Wilder possesses, but it didn't tell us much about his ability to fight with someone who can avoid his right hand for more than a round.
Presumably, Parker will be able to make it out of the first round. He's only been knocked out once in his career, an 11th-round finish at the hands of Joe Joyce.
There's a reason Parker is a sizable underdog. He doesn't have nearly the list of accomplishments in the ring as Wilder, but he can't be ruled out of giving Wilder a challenge.
He's much younger at 31 years old and has some power of his own. He is coming off a third-round knockout in Riyadh against Simon Kean to win the IBF and WBO inter-continental titles.
Wilder is now 38. It's not just a given that he's the same fighter that was once WBC champion.
Can Parker Take Advantage of the Ring Rust?
Joseph Parker doesn't lack in confidence. While some balk at the idea of talking a lot before fighting someone with Wilder's presence, he hasn't avoided the opportunity.
One reason he feels confident is that he's going to have an advantage from staying active and remaining sharp in the ring.
"I feel that being active, you're able to work on things and keep in shape, and there's nothing that beats fighting in the ring in front of a big crowd and preparing for a big fight," Parker said, per James Regan of ESPN. "It just depends, for Wilder, is ring rust a thing for him, or can he shake it off and come in fresh? Those are going to be big questions that we're going to see on fight night."
Unlike Wilder, Parker has remained really active. This will be his fourth fight of 2023 after beating Jack Massey in January, Gaiga Opelu in May and Kean in October, he should be in great shape and ready to go the distance if he can get it to go that long.
TNT Sports' boxing pundits have given their predictions for Deontay Wilder's fight against Joseph Parker on "Day of Reckoning" – live on TNT Sports Box Office.
The highly-anticipated encounter between Wilder and Parker is the co-main event on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, alongside a heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin.
Wins for both Joshua and Wilder could set up a bout between the pair in 2024, potentially on February 17 when Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk fight to unify the heavyweight division.
Wilder is returning to the ring for the first time since October 2022, when he defeated Robert Helenius by knockout.
Prior to that, the 38-year-old American had been stopped twice by Fury in their trilogy, having fought to a controversial draw in their first encounter.
Meanwhile, Parker has fought three times in 2023 and is aiming to capitalise on Wilder's "ring rust".
With the eagerly-anticipated fight between the pair getting closer, TNT Sports' pundits have given their predictions on how it will play out.
CARL FROCH
For me, Deontay Wilder will render Joseph Parker unconscious. I'm not going to say what round, but he wins by a knockout.
GEORGE GROVES
I think Parker is a very good boxer, a really strong guy. But maybe with a couple more miles on the clock, I think Wilder is in good form. He hasn't had a lot of action, but I think Wilder wins. I think he might even stop Parker.
STEVE BUNCE
It's a tricky fight. We know what Wilder can do. Everybody is underestimating Joseph Parker. Big Joe wins, he wins on points.
FABIO WARDLEY
I think for the very early part of the fight it's going to be a bit of a shoot out. I think Parker's going to put the pressure on him and really stick it to him. But I think as the fight goes on, I think that right hand, the power shots from Wilder, will start to land and will have an effect.
RICHIE WOODHALL
Joseph Parker will hit and move, and make it very difficult early on. It may frustrate Deontay Wilder a little bit. But as the rounds go on, I think Joseph Parker may get a little bit tired and get caught eventually. So eight or nine rounds for Deontay Wilder, and he'll win by knockout.
JAMIE MOORE
Wilder by a knockout. I think Parker will cause him problems. Give him a few little moments early on. But ultimately, I think Wilder's power will be the decider.
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'DAY OF RECKONING' LIVE ON DAZN AND TNT SPORTS BOX OFFICE IN THE UK & IRELAND
On Saturday 23 December, fight fans will witness boxing’s greatest champions, head-to-head in what promises to be an action-filled night of entertainment, as part of Riyadh Season. In a UK broadcast first "Day of Reckoning" will be available live on both DAZN and TNT Sports Box Office for fans to watch in the UK and Ireland.
"Day of Reckoning" costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through DAZN or TNT Sports Box Office and is available via the DAZN app on Smart TVs, streaming sticks, tablets, laptops and game consoles, Virgin Media TV, Sky and EE TV.
You do not need to be a subscriber to buy this event and more information on all the ways you can watch can be found at
DAZN customers can purchase the fight on or via the DAZN app, accessed on their Smart TVs, streaming sticks, laptop, tablets, mobiles and games consoles.
Sky customers can purchase on channel 494 via their remote control or via
Virgin Media TV customers in the UK: customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View Events rail.
EE TV customers can go to channel 495 and pay using their remote control.
Customers in the Republic of Ireland can purchase via the DAZN app or through TNT Sports Box Office via Sky at - €29.99 or €34.99 (on the day).
eontay Wilder and Joseph Parker will star in the co-main event of the 'Day of Reckoning', to be held this Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
The Bronze Bomber was scheduled to face Anthohy Joshua, with whom he will share the bill in Riyadh, although he must first fight Parker, a former WBO champion.
Saturday's fight will mark the return to the ring for Wilder after more than a year out of action, as his last fight was in October 2022 when he defeated Robert Helenius by technical knockout.
With a record of 43-2-1, Wilder is a true knockout artist, with 42 wins claimed that way. The only fighter to survive his power was Tyson Fury in 2018, as highlighted by Sporting News.
For his part, Joseph Parker has a 33-3-0 record and is coming off of winning all three of his fights in 2023.
In 2018, the former WBO heavyweight champion lost the belt to Anthony Joshua and in 2022, against Joe Joyce, saw a streak of six consecutive wins snapped.
His most recent fight was a win was by knockout in October against Simon Kean.
What time are Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker's ring walks?
The main card will take place on Saturday, December 23 starting at 11:00 a.m. ET, when the event begins.
While the main walk to the ring will begin at approximately 5:35 p.m. ET.
Where can I watch Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker in the United States?
The ‘Day of Reckoning’ is upon us as Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua headline a blockbuster boxing event that will feature six heavyweight bouts on Sunday morning [AEDT].
Wilder is set for his fight in over a year as he takes on former world champ Joseph Parker in the co-main event before Joshua battles Otto Wallin in the main event.
The expectation is that Wilder and Joshua will both have their hand raised to set up a long-anticipated fight between the pair.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has poured cold water on the idea that Wilder is guaranteed to get past Parker on Sunday, telling FightHype that the American “better be switched on” or risk a stunning loss.
In fact, in comments on DAZN Boxing, Hearn went on to say that while Wilder is capable of “beating every heavyweight in the top-10” he is capable of losing to all of them.
Boxing: Day of Reckoning SUN 24th DEC 3AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
“I heard him say a quote earlier going, ‘AJ is a manufactured champion, I’m a true champion’. This guy has never beaten an elite heavyweight,” Hearn said.
“He won the title from Bermane Stiverne. He defended it against Bermane Stiverne. He defended it against Dominic Breazeale. He lost three times to Tyson Fury.
“He is capable of losing to any heavyweight in the top-10. He is also capable of beating every heavyweight in the top-10. This is a dangerous, dangerous man... but I don’t rate him, honestly.”
Wilder claimed earlier in the week in an interview with BBC that Joshua and Hearn are both “intimidated” by him and that is why the fight has still not taken place.
In response, Hearn emphatically denied that was the case, declaring both he and Joshua have “always wanted the fight”.
“He’s not the smartest because if he was he’d understand that when you talk about a cash cow, really you’re saying we want to make money,” Hearn said in an interview with Boxing News.
“The way we make money is we make AJ against Wilder. We make a fortune in that fight.”
Wilder told Sky Sports a fight against Joshua would be “the biggest in the world” and now it is finally a distinct possibility of happening depending on how Sunday’s blockbuster card shakes out.
“Now the moment has come where it’s the closest that it’s ever been in history right now,” Wilder said.
“The closest that it’s ever been. I’m excited to say that. I’m not 100 percent sure that it’s going to happen. There’s a lot of things that has gone on, a lot of things that has been done.
“You can’t be 100 percent until that bell rings and that first punch has been thrown.”
Joshua is coming off back-to-back wins over Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin, both coming in dominant fashion, but had lost two-straight fights to Oleksandr Usyk before then.