Maxboxing 2023 Upset of the Year

The upset. 

There were a few in 2023 that made the eyebrows go up. 

One was the biggest. 

Joseph Parker defeats Deontay Wilder. 

A few weeks ago, Wilder was flying high in Saudia Arabia. He had confirmed that he’d be throwing hands with rival Anthony Joshua in March 2024. It was a fight many fans had been wanting for years. Wilder even appointed himself Joshua’s therapist, laying out his diagnosis to iFL TV. 

“I’ve always thought Joshua was mentally weak. This has not just started," said Wilder. “If you go back to my previous interviews and hear me talk about Joshua, I’ve always thought he had a very weak mentality...especially when it comes to fighting me.” 

Wilder said he’d knock out Parker in three or four rounds. He’s scored 42 knockouts in 43 wins. The power is there. It’s other things like footwork and balance, but Wilder was heavyweight champion for five years until he ran into Tyson Fury. 

Joesph Parker? A former WBO heavyweight champ. His most important win, four years ago, was a debatable decision over Andy Ruiz. Parker has an outstanding record, but his three losses were when he stepped up. 

The old “he can’t win the big one” floated above Parker. 

“That” was popped in Saudi Arabia when Parker nearly pitched a shutout over a passive Wilder. Parker stayed out of range and outboxed Wilder–who looked unsure and tentative. An odd fight - with the big puncher reluctant to throw. Or maybe he can’t pull the trigger anymore. 

Runner-up: Rafeal Espinoza MD Robeisy Ramirez 

Unknown Rafael Espinoza captured the WBO featherweight title by upsetting Robeisy Ramirez. Espinoza looked done in round five but rallied to floor Ramirez in the last round with guts and determination. The action resembled a rollercoaster. They battled. A rematch is in the making. 

Honorable Mention: Brian Mendoza KO7 Sebastian Fundora. 

Mendoza entered his fight with the lanky Fundora, an 11-1 longshot.      

For six rounds, Fundora beat Mendoza to the punch. It seemed easy until Mendoza connected with a huge left hook in round six. Fundora stumbled and hung in the air, stunned. Mendoza pounced and let fly with a right that knocked Fundora down. The likable giant was on his back, his head up, listening as the referee counted him out.