5 things to know about Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker ahead of fight in Saudi Arabia

It took Deontay Wilder less than three minutes to handle his last opponent, knocking out Robert Helenius in the first round of his return to the ring at the Barclays Center in October 2022.

He'll be hoping for a similar result 14 months later, though it'll come halfway around the world.

Wilder (43-2-1), a native of Tuscaloosa and former World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, is scheduled to fight Joseph Parker in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday. Parker has fought three times since Wilder's last appearance, picking up a trio of wins over Jack Massey in January, Faiga Opelu in May and Simon Kean in October.

Parker (33-3) is 9-1 over his last 10 fights, with the one blemish coming against Joe Joyce in September 2022.

Here are five things to know about Wilder and Parker ahead of their co-main event matchup:

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Joseph Parker is decorated, too

It's easy to be enamored by Wilder's accolades and knockout power, but Parker isn't a slouch.

The former World Boxing Organization heavyweight champion from December 2016 to March 2018, Parker has picked up 23 knockouts in his 33 wins. A native of New Zealand, Parker represented his country as an amateur before he turned professional in 2012.

Highlights of Parker's amateur career include gold medals in the 2011 Arafura Games, 2011 China Open and 2012 Belgrade Winner Tournament. He picked up a silver medal at the Youth Summer Olympics in 2010 and won bronze at the Youth World Championships in 2010.

Announcement made in November

The matchup between Wilder and Parker was announced in November. It's one of eight fights on a card that also features a co-main event between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin. Other bouts set to preview the main fights include Daniel Dubois-Jarell Millier, Dmitry Bivol-Lyndon Arthur, Jai Opetaia-Ellis Zorro, Filip Hrgovic-Mark DeMori, Arslanbek Makhmudov-Agit Kabayel and Frank Sanchez-Junior Fa.

Wilder-Joshua next?

Wilder and Joshua (26-3) have agreed to fight each other in March, setting up a highly-anticipated matchup between a pair of former world champions.

But there's one condition, according to ESPN: Wilder must beat Parker, and Joshua must take down Wallin (26-1). Both fighters must also come out of their respective fights uninjured.

'The Bronze Bomber'

Nicknames often have backgrounds, and Wilder didn't pick his up by accident.

Referred to by some as "The Bronze Bomber," Wilder's moniker came to be after he earned a bronze medal in the heavyweight division at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing, China. The nickname is similar to that of legendary boxer Joe Louis, who was sometimes called "The Brown Bomber."

A bronze statue of Wilder was unveiled at the Tuscaloosa Riverwalk in May 2022: “Our organization has long supported Deontay Wilder and his journey to becoming a heavyweight champion," president and CEO of Tuscaloosa Tourism and Sports Don Staley said at the time, according to the Tuscaloosa News. "We’re proud of his accomplishments and are thrilled the visitor center will be home to this incredible statue."

“His championship title has put our community, Deontay’s hometown, on the map," Staley said. "And his statue will pay tribute to that."

Fans can watch through DAZN

For those looking to watch Wilder take on Parker, the full event can be bought through DAZN for $39.99. The company does, however, require a subscription to be eligible. Subscription prices range depending on the payment plan selected.

The event is scheduled to start at 10 a.m. CT, and Wilder-Parker is expected to occur around 4:35 p.m. CT. The timing is fluid depending on the length of the other fights on the card.

Richard Silva is a sports reporter for the USA TODAY network. He can be reached via email at rsilva@gannett.com or on Twitter @rich_silva18.

This article originally appeared on Montgomery Advertiser: What to know about Deontay Wilder, Joseph Parker before fight