Deontay Wilder looks to beat Joseph Parker tonight on a huge night of heavyweight boxing in Saudi Arabia and in doing so tee up a blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua.
The bill unlike no other is hosted in Riyadh this evening, setting the scene for a long-awaited clash between the former world champions back in Saudi Arabia early next year.
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But while Joshua first has to negotiate the tricky challenge of Otto Wallin in the main event, Wilder similarly has to hold up his end of the bargain by seeing off the challenge of Parker in the co-headline bout.
This will be only the American's second fight since his back-to-back losses to Tyson Fury in that famous trilogy that culminated in October 2021, with 'The Bronze Bomber' having inflicted a brutal first-round knockout on Robert Helenius - who would later go seven rounds with Joshua - in Brooklyn 14 months ago.
He should find things tougher after such a layoff against the experienced and durable Parker, a training partner of Wilder's arch-nemesis Fury who will undoubtedly be seeking tips from his close friend on how to spring a big upset in the Middle East.
Parker became the first man ever to take Joshua the distance as a professional as he lost his WBO title in a unification fight in Cardiff back in 2018, while he was also outpointed by Dillian Whyte and was stopped in a gruelling war with Joe Joyce only last year.
The affable New Zealander has been on the comeback trail since then, being taken the full 10 rounds by usual cruiserweight Jack Massey on the Chris Eubank Jr-Liam Smith undercard before heading to Australia and Saudi for early knockouts of Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean, picking up the vacant IBF and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles with the latter win on the Tyson Fury-Francis Ngannou undercard.
Wilder vs Parker date, start time, venue and ring walks
Wilder vs Parker takes place today, Saturday December 23, 2023 at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The early undercard is due to kick off at around 4pm GMT, with the main portion from 7pm GMT.
Joshua-Wallin ring walks are expected at approximately 11:45pm GMT, with Wilder-Parker ring walks slated for around 10:35pm GMT.
As always though, those timings are all approximate and subject to change.
Wilder vs Parker fight card/undercard in full
Wilder-Parker will serve as the co-main event on Saturday night, with Joshua vs Wallin handed top billing.
The formidable Dmitry Bivol also defends his WBA light-heavyweight title for the 11th time against Manchester's Lyndon Arthur, while fireworks could well fly when Daniel Dubois battles Jarrell Miller in another headline heavyweight tussle.
Jai Opetaia - recently forced to vacate his IBF cruiserweight world title - is also in action on a busy show, along with another heavyweight trio in Filip Hrgovic, Frank Sanchez and Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur
Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller
Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro
Filip Hrgovic vs Mark de Mori
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel
Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa
How to watch Wilder vs Parker
TV channel: Wilder vs Parker is being broadcast live in the UK on DAZN pay-per-view and via TNT Sports Box Office.
UK viewers can purchase the PPV fight and join the DAZN instalment plan for a first month's subscription for £20, or pay £24.99 for the fight and a monthly flex subscription.
Live stream: The action can also be viewed after purchase live online via the DAZN app and website or Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can also follow the entire card on Saturday night via Standard Sport’s live blog.
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Wilder vs Parker fight prediction
The Fury trilogy seems to have taken something out of the mellower Wilder in terms of his out-of-ring persona, though the only evidence we have in the ring is that he remains as wildly destructive as ever - as Helenius found out to his cost with one brutal early swing of that dynamite right hand at Barclays Center.
But no fights in 14 months means there will likely be some ring rust to shake off against a notably tough and durable opponent in Parker, who will certainly not go down lightly.
We expect Parker to make this fight close - and probably something of a tough watch - over the first few rounds or so, before Wilder uncorks one of those lights-out strikes from nowhere midway through to secure another emphatic stoppage and send a warning to Joshua.
Wilder to win by knockout in the middle rounds.
Wilder vs Parker weigh-in results
Wilder weighed in on Friday at 213lbs, while Parker tipped the scales at a much heavier 245.3lbs.
Wilder vs Parker betting odds
Wilder to win: 1/7
Parker to win: 9/2
Draw: 20/1
Wilder to win by decision/technical decision: 15/2
Wilder to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 1/4
Parker to win by decision/technical decision: 15/2
Parker to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 11/1
