The Day of Reckoning event is on Saturday, and the fighter lineup is so star-studded that you could pick any of these fights as the main event. One is the fight between former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs) going up against former WBO champion Joseph Parker (33-3, 23 KOs). This is an interesting matchup as both fighters bring something different to the table, which makes for a much-anticipated co-main.
WILL INACTIVITY AND FATHER TIME GET THE BEST OF DEONTAY WILDER?
🥁🥁🥁 @bronzebomber
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2023
Watch the #DayOfReckoning globally on DAZN PPV on Saturday, December 23. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/W8RCrUEU3E
It’s hard to say whether Wilder will look like a shell of himself as he has only fought less than one round since the Fury Trilogy. His last fight was in October 2022, and since then, he’s been more active in posting workout videos with Malik Scott than fighting someone in the ring. He’s now in the position to make fights with other promoters, which makes this latest run more interesting. He has a long-awaited battle against Anthony Joshua on the horizon but must first defeat Parker to get there.
Wilder has always said that his opponents must be perfect for the whole fight, while he only has to be for three seconds. That hammer of a right hand has helped escape Wilder from decision losses, but it also wasn’t enough to beat Fury. Is Parker similar to Fury in that he can take a Wilder right hand and get up from it? More than likely, he’s unable to, so at the end of this fight, all you will hear is “Bomb Squad,” yelled obnoxiously by Wilder.
JOSEPH PARKER NEEDS TO BE PERFECT AGAINST WILDER
Was it easy for @joeboxerparker to take this fight?
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2023
Watch the #DayOfReckoning globally on DAZN PPV on Saturday, December 23. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv 🥊 #riyadhseason pic.twitter.com/f9yqtnG4MO
For those who don’t remember, Parker was knocked out by a much slower Joe Joyce in September 2022, which doesn’t help his cause to win this fight. Parker is on a three-fight winning streak, but it was against lesser opposition. He is only 31, and in the heavyweight division, it means he can go for at least another five years if he chooses to do so. In saying that, this isn’t Parker’s moment, and he will have to wait until these more prominent names retire before he can attempt to get one of those titles.
If Parker wants to pull off the upset, he must make it ugly against Wilder. That means forcing Wilder to fight backward and getting him against the ropes so he has no leverage on his right hand. That’s a lot to ask from Parker, but it isn’t impossible. The issue is that he has to have the conditioning to do it all night, and it’s hard to see that coming from Parker.
DEONTAY WILDER VS. JOSEPH PARKER PREDICTION
Someone in the audience should yell “timber” when Wilder lands his right hand, as Parker will be out for the count when he does—Wilder by brutal knockout in the fifth round.
DEONTAY WILDER VS. JOSEPH PARKER BETTING ODDS
Per BetOnline.ag, Deontay Wilder is the favorite at -650 (Over 6 ½ rounds -125), and Joseph Parker is the underdog at +425 (Under 6 ½ rounds -105).
Deontay Wilder: TKO/KO -400; Decision +600
Draw: +2200
Joseph Parker: TKO/KO +1000; Decision +700
Round Group Betting
Joseph Parker by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 1 to 3 +6600
Joseph Parker by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 4 to 6 +3300
Joseph Parker by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 7 to 9 +3300
Joseph Parker by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 10 to 12 +5000
👀 @joeboxerparker keeping a close eye on @bronzebomber
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2023
Watch the #DayOfReckoning globally on DAZN PPV on Saturday, December 23. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv#RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/bvAU5Y1H9y
Deontay Wilder by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 1 to 3 +400
Deontay Wilder by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 4 to 6 +225
Deontay Wilder by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 7 to 9 +225
Deontay Wilder by KO/TKO/DQ in
Round 10 to 12 +500
𝐓𝐮𝐧𝐞-𝐢𝐧... 𝐈𝐭 𝐣𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐖𝐈𝐋𝐃𝐄𝐑 💣
— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) December 20, 2023
🍿 https://t.co/XKH1sn8nHy
Watch the #DayOfReckoning globally on DAZN PPV on Saturday, December 23. Buy now at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv #RiyadhSeason pic.twitter.com/29TwEg7g7t
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. OTTO WALLIN DATE, START TIME
- Date: Saturday, December 23
- Start time: 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT
- Main event ringwalks (approx): 6:30 p.m. ET / 3:30 p.m. PT
These timings could change due to the length of the undercard fights.
WHAT CHANNEL/STREAM ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. OTTO WALLIN?
- U.S.: DAZN PPV & PPV.com (No subscription required for PPV.com) $39.99
- UK: DAZN PPV
ANTHONY JOSHUA VS. OTTO WALLIN FIGHT CARD
- Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin; heavyweight
- Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker; heavyweight
- Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur; For Bivol's WBA light heavyweight title
- Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller; heavyweight
- Jai Opetaia vs. Ellis Zorro; cruiserweight
- Filip Hrgovic vs. Mark de Mori; heavyweight
- Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Agit Kabayel; For Kabayel's European heavyweight title
- Frank Sanchez vs. Junior Fa; heavyweight
