Deontay Wilder has fought just once in the last two-plus years, a first round knockout win against Robert Helenius in October of 2022. Before that, he took back-to-back losses against lineal heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Aside from the losses to Fury, Deontay has a pristine record with 43 wins to his credit, with only the two losses mentioned and a draw. A whopping 42 of those 43 wins were by way of knockout.

That said, Wilder is known for having taken on a lot of lower tier talent or guys that were no longer in their prime. Deontay is no spring chicken himself at 38 years old, but they always say that power is the last thing to go in aging combat sports athletes and the “Bronze Bomber” certainly has the hot hand, even this late in his career.

Ahead of him is one Joseph Parker from Auckland New Zealand. The 31-year-old heavyweight has a solid record, but much like Anthony Joshua’s opponent, Otto Wallin, Parker struggles when taking on the upper echelon of the division. When faced with aging opponents like Derek Chisora, Alex Leapi and Shawndell Winters, Parker does very well.

However, when faced with top tier foes like Joe Joyce, Anthony Joshua and Dillian Whyte, he can’t seem to get over the hump. Both Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua have taken what many are calling tune up bouts, but of the two, Otto Wallin has—at least in my very humble opinion—the better chance at an upset. We’ll just have to see how it all pans out.

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker live play-by-play

Round 1

Deontay Wilder starts off with a jab. Parker has yet to throw anything more than a minute in. Left straight by Wilder misses. One-two by Parker is partially blocked. Parker keeping a healthy distance. Not much happening here. One-two by Parker with the right hand landing flush. Round over.

Round 2

Left to the body by Parker makes it through. Left by Parker is blocked. Wilder with a right up top. Double jab by Parker followed by a one-two that glances off Wilder’s shoulder. Wilder with a hard left. Parker bulldozes in and manages to land a quick paid of punches to Wilder’s ribs.

Deontay with a one-two up top. Lots of circling and feinting now. Parker with a body shot. Wilder feints again then throws a right up top that falls short. Round over.

Round 3

Wilder starts off with a pawing jab. Nice one-two by Wilder gets answere by a couple to the ribs by Parker. Triple jab by Wilder. Overhand right grazes Wilder. Double jab by Parker followed by a hard one to the gut.

Wilder with a hard left up top. Parker with one to the body. Parker comes in hot with a one-two but Wilder blocks and returns two up top then ties him up. Parker misses with a big overhand right. Round over.

Round 4

Wilder with a left up top followed by a right that partially lands. Parker with a double jab and then one to the body. Wilder with a big right that fall way short. They tie up.

Wilder with a nice right that lands flush. Parker gets ion two more to the body, then whiffs on a left hook. Wilder firing the jab but still holding onto the right. Wilder with a big right that just barely misses. They tie up. Round over.

Round 5

Parker with a jab to the gut. Parker with another left up top then one to the body. They tie up. Wilder is barely doing much, just backing up and circling. Parker with another jab to the body. Wilder with another hard jab but still throwing sparsely.

Parker advancing with another one-two and a third to the ribs. Parker with another nice right up top. Wilder with a double jab and then feints the right. Parker still doubling up the jab with the body shot follow-through. Parker with another jab that finds its mark up top. Round over.

Round 6

Parker advancing with the jab. Big right to the body falls short for Parker. Parker crowds him in the corner, forcing Wilder to throw in defense but nothing landed flush. Wilder back in the corner as Parker rushes in with a one-two.

Parker with a right up top. Wilder with a three-punch combo where the third punch landed hard. Parker crowds him again and throws that overhand right but it’s clubbed away. Parker with a big right to the body. They tie up. Parker just misses with the overhand right but manages to slam one home to the body as the round ends.

Round 7

Left jab by Wilder. Parker still working the jab and body. Parker pins him to the ropes and manages to land two rights up top. Left by Parker finds it’s mark.Left jab by Wilder gets through.One-two by Wilder grazes Parker.

Another nice right up top by Wilder. Big right by Parker makes Wilder stumble a little. Big right by Wilder lands too. Parker with another one-two as the round ends.

Round 8

Parker with a one-two then a shot to the body. Low blow by Parker is missed by the ref. Left jab by Wilder is blocked. Big right uppercut followed by another to the temple. Parker gets in a right of his own. They tie up briefly then get back to center ring.

Parker with a big overhand right that misses. Nice triple jab lands for Parker. Huge right hook lands for Parker and staggers Wilder. They are going for broke and Parker lands another big one and another. Wilder is on shaky legs. Wilder manages to catch Parker with a right of his own Wilder manages to stay alive as the round ends.

Round 9

Left by Parker falls short. Left to the body lands for Parker. Wilder still looks wobbly. Parker goes to the body again. Ref warns Parker to keep his punches up. Wilder looks like he’s baiting Parker who shoots in with the triple jab then another big overhand right that falls short.

Wilder just circling and pawing with a jab that isn’t landing. Deontay with more of the pawing jab. Now he advances with a big right-left. Left jab then the big right by Wilder as the bell sounds.

Round 10

Wilder with the left jab up top. And again but Parker lands a hard jab that snaps his head back. Wilder with the left jab again. Parker lands a nice one of his own. Big one-two by Wilder. Parker rushes in again with punches up top and to the ribs. Most were blocked.

More circling. Parker working his jab. Wilder throws the double jab. Parker with one to the gut. Parker is advancing and Wilder just keeps moving away. Another nice left to the body. Overhand right by Parker just as Wilder lands the uppercut. Round over.

Round 11

Wilder with the left jab as Parker advances with his own jab. Parker with the double jab up top. Overhand right by Parker just misses. They tie up in the corner forcing the ref to intervene. Another overhand right by Parker lands flush.

Wilder with the jab. They tie up against the ropes. Ref intervenes. Left by Wilder. One-two by Wilder is partially blocked. Parker with a nice left hand. Left by Wilder followed by a wild hook that misses by a mile. Overhand right by Parker as the round ends.

Round 12

Left by Parker to start. Wilder rushes in and Wilder grabs his head and lands a couple short shots before the ref can separate. Wilder landing several big shots, but Parker eats them and keeps coming. They tie up and Wilder is throwing shots to Parker’s gut.

Wilder swinging big shots and missing. They keep tying up and forcing the ref in. Parker with a left up top. They’re tied up again. Parker leaning on Wilder and punching the gut. Now Wilder has landed another big right. Parker hanging on as Wilder throws everything he has. Parker weathered the 12-round storm. Round over. Excellent fight by Parker. Wilder looked awful.