24 December 2023 , 00:27
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Eddie Hearn told Deontay Wilder he's "not right" after the American was beaten by Joseph Parker.
Wilder had agreed a two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua prior to the rivals' respective fights in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night. But while Joshua kept his end of the deal by stopping Otto Wallin, it was too little, too late after Wilder had been outpointed by Parker. And Joshua's promoter Hearn refused hold back on his criticism of the former world champion.
"I'm just going to go and vomit and I'll be back in 20 seconds," Hearn joked to TNT Sports. "I said in the build-up I don't rate him. Wilder had no idea, no clue. He lost 120-108, lost every round, and he's there at the end putting his hand up saying he's won the fight. He's not right. That's the reality.
Deontay Wilder lost to Joseph Parker (AFP via Getty Images)“It was the most one-sided heavyweight fight I've ever seen. It's ruined our plans [for the Anthony Joshua fight]. We've got to go back into the changing room and let Joshua know Wilder has just lost to Parker. The future is not Deontay Wilder." Joshua opted for a more diplomatic response and refused to be too harsh on his rival.
"I wasn’t watching, I was just focusing on myself for the whole fight week," he said. "I knew how important this fight was to me. I heard Deontay lost, so what. He will come back. Everything Deontay said about me, I could rip him apart right now but I’m going to take the higher ground and I hope he comes back. You can do anything just don’t give up, if he wants he can come back and fight another day.”
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Wilder appeared content to box on the back foot and allow Parker to dominate, expecting to be able to KO the Kiwi at any point. But instead he barely landed a blow - and didn't appear upset to have lost. “My timing was off a little bit, big up to Joseph as he did a great job avoiding all of my punches," he said.
"We make no excuses tonight. We’re not going to base it off inactivity, we move onto the next and live to see another day. I tried to stay calm, throw jabs and set up my right hand. I felt like I had the upper hand but these thing happen."