The best laid plans of men: 8-1 underdog Joseph Parker dominates Deontay Wilder, derails Joshua bout

Deontay Wilder said several days ago he’d knockout Joseph Parker.  

Parker was quietly confident. His trainer Andy Lee said his charge would stop Wilder. 

So, who was right?

Neither, but Parker was the better man by far. The former WBO heavyweight champion won the fight by a wide unanimous decision at Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia Saturday night.

Scores were 118-111,118-110, and 120-108 all for Parker. 

In round one, the long-limbed Wilder moved to his left. He seemed to be lulling Parker into leading – so he could fire his dynamite right. Respect was evident. Punches were not. Parker fired a right. Wilder jabbed. Parker’s round. 

Parker shot a jab to the belly in round two. Wilder circling. He stepped in, but Parker blocked his blow. Wilder jabbed. As did Parker. Close round edge to Parker. 

The chess match continued in round three. Parker landed a double jab. Wilder opened a little more, but Parker stayed within himself. He scored. In round four, Parker tried to corner Wilder. Wilder missed a right.Parker jabbed to the body. Wilder, with a seven-inch reach advantage, fired jabs in return. Parker attacked Wilder on the ropes. Parker’s round.

In round five, Parker, bobbing slightly, fired a right. Wilder waited. Parker landed a combination. Wilder pulled back from a Parker’s right. Unofficially, Parker had won every round. Parker jabbed up and down in round six. Wilder moved away. As always, he was looking for the knockout blow. Parker wasn’t cooperating. So far. Wilder fired a right. Parker took it. He fired his own right that connected.

Parker(34-3, 23 KOs)  had to fight the urge to get overconfident. He landed a double eft in round seven. Wilder missed a big right. Parker connected with a hard right to the head.

Through seven rounds, Parker was winning easily.

Parker got off first in round eight. Wilder was clipped but fought back. Parker took it well. He jabbed to the belly and head. Parker opened up – connecting with a rainbow hook to the head. Wilder felt it. Parker unloaded. 

In round nine, Parker stuck with his game plan. He connected with another right hand. Parker scored with a left. Wilder continued to wait. He finally came forward. A right scored. 

Wilder needed a knockout to win. He’d lost every round on this writer’s unofficial scorecard. Parker landed a sharp jab to the face. Wilder fired a right hook.

Parker clipped Wilder with a left. Wilder connected with an uppercut. Edge to Wilder.

Wilder (43-3-2-1, 42 KOs) jabbed in round 11. Parker dipped and fired back. Both fighters landed blows. Parker scored with a left to the ribs. Near the end of the stanza, Parker connected with an overhand right. 

In the 12^th and final round, Parker landed a right and ate a Wilder blow. Parker dug to the body. Parker jabbed and ripped to the body. Wilder fired his game-changing (usually) right. Parker took it and fired a left hook. The fight was his.

“Dangerous fight, tough fight, but we trained hard,” said Parker.