Joshua wins in style but Wilder suffers shock loss

Deontay Wilder celebrated at the final bell despite Joseph Parker dominating the fight

American Deontay Wilder suffered a shock points loss to Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia, scuppering plans for a long-awaited heavyweight blockbuster against Anthony Joshua next year.

New Zealander Parker, also a former world champion, was awarded a unanimous decision with the judges' scoring it 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108.

Briton Joshua faces Sweden's Otto Wallin in the headline fight later on Saturday.

Saudi organisers had already pencilled in the long-awaited Joshua-Wilder bout for next year. While no contract had been signed, the pair were expected to enter the ring post-fight and announce a deal to fight at some point in early 2024.

Wilder admitted the Joshua talk had been "a distraction" as Parker, who predicted all week he would rip up the script, signalled his ambition to become a two-time world champion.

"I have a lot of respect for Wilder but we trained very hard for this. Everyone had other plans but this is God's plan," Parker, 31, said.

Wilder a shadow of himself as Parker proves his worth

Wilder entered the ring wearing a crown, but it has been almost four years since he reigned over the heavyweight division.

He was introduced with his newly acclaimed nickname 'Dr Sleep'. After some cagey opening rounds he may have put the crowd to sleep rather than his opponent.

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The inactive Wilder had boxed just three minutes in the past two years, signs of ring rust were expected. But losing rounds is nothing new to Wilder. Numerous times before he has looked out of his depth, only to unleash that ferocious right hand.

Parker grew in confidence and traded with Wilder in the fourth, whipping a left hook into the body and hurting Wilder with an exchange on the inside.

Was the ghost of the Tyson Fury trilogy, when Wilder drew one and lost two, haunting him? His timing and judgement of distance was off.

Parker came forward with bursts. In between rounds Parker's trainer, Andy Lee, told his fighter to go after Wilder, that a knockout would come. "This is your moment," Lee said.

Parker is just the second man to defeat Wilder

Wilder enjoyed his best moment in the sixth, landing a right but without the ferocity which has stopped 42 opponents in 43 wins.

Former WBO champion Parker was the busier, more accurate boxer, comfortably winning most rounds.

Wilder had no answer for what was to come in the eighth. Parker landed the most thunderous overhand right. Wilder, backed into the ropes, was in trouble as Parker continued the attack.

Saved by the bell, Wilder poked his tongue out as he stumbled back to his corner. All the while Joshua was getting his hands wrapped and going through warm-ups in the dressing room, unaware of what was unfolding in the ring.

Wilder was telegraphing his right hands as Parker continued to land more cleanly as the fight entered the championship rounds.

New Zealand's Parker was on a run of three straight wins and two knockouts. He was demonstrating just why many pundits tipped him for the win.

For all Parker's dominance, there was still a puncher's chance for Wilder. He threw the kitchen sink in the 12th, but missed by an absolute mile.

With Joshua moments form making his ring entrance, his promoter Eddie Hearn told TNT: "It was the most one-sided heavyweight fight I've ever seen. It's ruined our plans. We've got to go let Anthony Joshua know Wilder lost to Parker."