Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker exchange punches during their heavyweight fight Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
"The Day of Reckoning," as Saturday's card at the Kingdom Arena in Saudi Arabia was officially dubbed, featured several high-profile fighters facing off against each other in the ring. Reckoning came, but only for Deontay Wilder in his return to the ring after a 14-month layoff.
Wilder. the former WBC heavyweight champion, lost a wide unanimous decision to Joseph Parker in the co-main event after entering the ring as a -600 favorite. But Parker came in with a quality game plan, walked Wilder down for most of the fight and was bringing the fight to him. Wilder was mostly content to sit back and wait for the big shot. Unfortunately, the big shot never came and Parker's relentless pace won him the fight via unanimous decision.
Anthony Joshua held up his end of the bargain and made Otto Wallin quit on the stool at the end of the fifth round. Who does he fight next though with Wilder losing?
Sound is back on for the fourth round. Joshua staying busy. Wallin won't back down. Fun scrap so far.
Yahoo Sports Staff
AJ looked sharp in a mostly quiet first round. (Sound is still out for the broadcast, but it was working for the commercials.)
Yahoo Sports Staff
"APOLOGIES FOR AUDIO ISSUES" appears in the top left corner of the screen while AJ and Wallin battle in the first round.
Yahoo Sports Staff
ESPN's feed of the DAZN broadcast has lost the audio.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Main event is about to begin. Will Anthony Joshua make a case for another title shot or will Otto Wallin upset the former champion? We're about to find out!
Yahoo Sports Staff
EDDIE HEARN WAS NOT MINCING HIS WORDS ON DEONTAY WILDER'S PERFORMANCE! 🫣
Michael Buffer reads the scorecards: 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108 all for Joseph Parker. Wilder loses for the third time in his last four fights after starting his career 42-0-1.
Wilder just couldn't pull the trigger, but all credit due to Parker for boxing a perfect fight. He won at least 11 out of 12 rounds, but it should be a shutout decision for Joe #DayOfReckoning
Parker has done 1 simple (but not easy) thing to win this fight and that’s stand his ground,kept wilder on his back foot and not let wilder step into his punches. He did his homework 📄
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 23: Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker exchange punches during the WBC International & WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight title fight between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker during the Day of Reckoning: Fight Night at Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports Staff
Sergio predicted the right hand because he understands the ABC of boxing. That was elementary. Wilder skip kindergarten and clearly in over a year out of the ring he never went back!!
Wilder got caught and is hurt on the ropes! Parker unloads, but Wilder survives. The fight is going to the ninth round.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Wilder finally landed a right hand in the seventh round, but it wasn't big enough and Parker takes that round as well. It's been a mostly dominant outing for Parker
Yahoo Sports Staff
It's true that one shot is all Wilder needs, but 1/2 the fight is done and there hasn't been a hint of urgency.
Slow rounds. If y’all ain’t know, deyontay is a reactive fighter. That means Parker has to show more in order for D to go. I wanna see more from D though. Set ups with punching not just moving
Co-main event is up next with Deontay Wilder (-600) taking on Joseph Parker (+400).
Yahoo Sports Staff
RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 23: Dmitry Bivol celebrates victory with the belts following the IBO and WBA Super World Light Heavyweight title fight between Dmitry Bivol and Lyndon Arthur during the Day of Reckoning: Fight Night at Kingdom Arena on December 23, 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Yahoo Sports Staff
"I would say that it was good sparring for me." - Dmitry Bivol 😳
First time the judges were needed on the card and they all score it 120-107 in Bivol's favor.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Arthur survives until the final bell. Bivol didn't get the knockout, but he definitely showed there's levels to boxing and he's levels above Arthur.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Bivol comes charging out and unleashes a mean flurry on Arthur, who takes the shots well. Arthur catches Bivol with an uppercut that causes Bivol to clinch and the ref to take a step back. One minute left.
Yahoo Sports Staff
Bivol gets the knockdown at the end of Round 11. Arthur pops up after a quick breath and is saved by the bell. We're going to the 12th and final round.
Day of Reckoning full card results
Heavyweight: Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin by TKO in Round 5 Heavyweight: Joseph Parker def. Deontay Wilder by unanimous decision (120-107, 120-107, 120-107) Light heavyweight: Dmitry Bivol def. Lyndon Arthur by unanimous decision (120-107, 120-107, 120-107) Heavyweight: Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller by TKO in Round 10 Heavyweight: Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov by TKO in Round 4 Cruiserweight: Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro by KO in Round 1 Heavyweight: Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Mori by TKO in Round 1 Heavyweight: Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa by TKO in Round 7
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