Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker: Fight Odds, Live Stream, Predictions | News, Scores, Highlights, Stats, and Rumors

What Kind of Shape is Wilder In?

It's been a long time since we've seen Deontay Wilder in the ring in a way where he is pushed. He's only fought once since his October 2021 loss to Tyson Fury and that was a first-round knockout win over Robert Helenius.

It was a good reminder of the one-punch knockout power that Wilder possesses, but it didn't tell us much about his ability to fight with someone who can avoid his right hand for more than a round.

Presumably, Parker will be able to make it out of the first round. He's only been knocked out once in his career, an 11th-round finish at the hands of Joe Joyce.

There's a reason Parker is a sizable underdog. He doesn't have nearly the list of accomplishments in the ring as Wilder, but he can't be ruled out of giving Wilder a challenge.

He's much younger at 31 years old and has some power of his own. He is coming off a third-round knockout in Riyadh against Simon Kean to win the IBF and WBO inter-continental titles.

Wilder is now 38. It's not just a given that he's the same fighter that was once WBC champion.

Can Parker Take Advantage of the Ring Rust?

Joseph Parker doesn't lack in confidence. While some balk at the idea of talking a lot before fighting someone with Wilder's presence, he hasn't avoided the opportunity.

One reason he feels confident is that he's going to have an advantage from staying active and remaining sharp in the ring.

"I feel that being active, you're able to work on things and keep in shape, and there's nothing that beats fighting in the ring in front of a big crowd and preparing for a big fight," Parker said, per James Regan of ESPN. "It just depends, for Wilder, is ring rust a thing for him, or can he shake it off and come in fresh? Those are going to be big questions that we're going to see on fight night."

Unlike Wilder, Parker has remained really active. This will be his fourth fight of 2023 after beating Jack Massey in January, Gaiga Opelu in May and Kean in October, he should be in great shape and ready to go the distance if he can get it to go that long.