Former heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker made emphatic statements by securing victories during the same event in Riyadh on Saturday.
Joshua, the Nigerian-British boxer, delivered an exceptional performance by stopping Sweden’s Otto Wallin in a one-sided bout. Wallin’s corner withdrew him after the fifth round, marking the first time Wallin faced a defeat within the distance in his professional career.
Meanwhile, Parker claimed a unanimous points-decision win over fellow former champion Deontay Wilder, dominating with scores of 118-111, 118-110, 120-108. This outcome quelled any talks of an imminent Wilder-Joshua showdown.
Speculation had circulated that the victor between Joshua and Wilder would face the winner of the upcoming Tyson Fury vs. Oleksandr Usyk clash, holders of various major heavyweight titles.
Joshua, focusing solely on his performance, remarked to DAZN, “I wasn’t watching. I just focused on myself…Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.”
This victory marked Joshua’s third win of 2023, elevating his professional record to 27 wins and three defeats. His goal is to become a three-time world champion, aiming to overcome previous losses to Usyk and Andy Ruiz.
Reflecting on his triumph, Joshua stated, “Not so much a throwback fight, just another day in the office. You want to do whatever it takes to be victorious. That’s all I want to be.”
Parker, after improving to 34-3 with 23 knockouts, acknowledged the match as part of “God’s plan.” Renowned for his knockout prowess, Wilder admitted that Parker did an excellent job dodging his punches.
“We make no excuses. We’ll be back for sure. We have a little bit more left,” said Wilder, who now stands at 43-3 with one draw and 42 knockouts, emphasizing his contentment with his career regardless of future outcomes.
The electrifying victories by Joshua and Parker have further ignited discussions within the heavyweight division, paving the way for potential future clashes among boxing’s elite.