Roy Jones Jr has offered his insight into Deontay Wilder’s ring return against the active Jospeh Parker on December 23.
The fight will be Parker’s fourth of this year, albeit at a much higher standard than the previous three, but Wilder’s first in over a year. Even then, that only lasted one round.
Bookmakers still make the knockout artist from Alabama a heavy favourite, but, speaking to Action Network, four-division world champion and one-time heavyweight titlist Jones says there’s a big chance of an upset.
As with all predictions concerning Wilder, the Hall of Famer starts off by saying Parker needs to avoid his one-and-done power.
“Joe Parker needs to avoid Wilder’s big right hand, if he can do that, he definitely has a chance because Parker is a very good boxer, better than people think he is, but he has to avoid that big right hand because he’s shown his susceptible to power in the past and Wilder has the biggest punch in the heavyweight division.
We’re trying to get to a Wilder versus Joshua next, and if they both come in prepared and they come in shape, they should prevail. But the biggest threat in either of those fights is Joe Parker because if he can figure out Deontay Wilder’s right hand, Joe Parker can really pull off the upset against Wilder, and because he has good boxing skills, he can be a real problem against Wilder who is very one dimensional. He can be quite easy to deal with.”
Should Wilder win and Anthony Joshua do the same against Otto Wallin – a fight Jones expects the Brit to win – the two former champions are reportedly all set to face off on March 9 in Saudi Arabia.