Joseph Parker delivers impressive career performance

Lupesoliai Laaulialemalietoa Joseph Parker was quick to acknowledge his Samoan side by uttering in Samoan Gods praise after beating knock out merchant Deontay Wilder in a dominant fashion in Saudi Arabia yesterday evening.

“I’m back,” he told to the boxing world as he scored an impressive career performance and upsetting the world boxing heavyweight division and disrupts Wilder’s plans to meet with Anthony Joshua next.

Impressive as Parker stepped up in will and resilience to make a difference despite being ruled out by most commentators ahead of his toughest opponent thus far in the Bronze Bomber.

But keeping to a fight plan with trainer Andy Lee, Parker had Wilder on the back foot and remained dominant to be given a unanimous win after 12 rounds with the cards reading 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108 after the final bell.

The win gained Parker the WBC International and WBO Intercontinental belts and about $10 million, but the real prize is what comes next.

It is arguably the biggest and most impressive win of Parker’s career, other than beating Andy Ruiz for the world title in 2016.

Joseph Parker celebrates victory following the WBC International & WBO Intercontinental Heavyweight title fight Photo: Richard Pelham

Calling Wilder his toughest opponent so far, the latest win instantaneously catapults Parker back into the heavyweight main event picture and probably lined up another multi-million-dollar payday in 2024.

It is impressive how Parker has improved under Andy Lee and in Tyson Fury’s camp. Around this time last year, Parker suffered a one-sided defeat to Briton Joe Joyce and there were serious questions asked as to whether he’d even continue fighting.

But he committed to rebuilding his career and kept busy with three fights this year before the fight with Wilder that created more interest and intrigue more than the main bout between Anthony Joshua and Swede Otto Wallin.

For the future, Parker’s value certainly has risen steeply given the way and nature of how he delivered to beat Wilder’s punching power and despite most expecting him to end up on his back. He has very much regained a reputation of ring tactician that can be a good style clash for anyone.