Malik Scott and Deontay Wilder expect to KO Joseph Parker “in a very horrific manner”
Malik Scott, trainer of former heavyweight world champion Deontay Wilder, is hoping the referee will keep a close eye on the safety of upcoming opponent Joseph Parker on December 23 in Saudia Arabia.
New Zealand's Parker, a former WBO world champion, is readying for his fourth of the year, while Wilder has only seen one round of action since his 2021 trilogy finale with Tyson Fury, which ended in an 11th round knockout defeat for the American.
Despite the inactivity, 'The Bronze Bomber' remains as dangerous as ever. One year and one week out of the ring, the 38-year-old stopped Robert Helenius with a brutal knockout in the first round of their October 2022 fight. Despite the Finn having shared dozens of rounds with the American, it did absolutely no good for him, because as soon as the Alabaman landed one right hand, it was all over in just 177 seconds.
This time, Wilder has been out of the ring for 14 months, which is the longest stretch he has ever endured out of the ring, but if his last performance is anything to go by, he will still be as threatening as ever, which causes trainer Malik Scott concern for his opponent, “I'm calling on the referee to make sure they're watching Joseph Parker closely and this goes for all of Deontay Wilder's opponents, but especially guys like Parker, who is in the second half of his career,” Scott told Betway.
“A young guy gets hit early, boom, he takes it, he's got a whole career ahead of him, but these older guys who have already taken punches, and who have already been in these tough wars – I really advise the referee to look after these guys. Don't let these fights go longer than they really should go because Deontay is a pure killer.
“After the fight, the next day, Deontay will ask how his opponent is, but in that moment the ‘Bronze Bomber’ is trying to send you to the next dimension. I pray to God that the referee keeps a close eye on Joseph Parker and any guy that Deontay fights because if you hop in and try and throw some lucky punch, we're going to make you reach and we're going to make you pay tragically in a very, very horrific manner, that goes for anyone that Deontay hits. It's like walking on to a head-on collision. They're going to make Deontay's job easier if they come in thinking they're going to be able to come in and push him back.”
Scott is expecting Wilder to make a big statement in the fight which could see the winner set up a huge showdown with former two-time champion Anthony Joshua in 2024, who is also featured in the 'Day of Reckoning' card against Otto Wallin.
“If Deontay on December 23 does everything that I know he can do, he will not only steal the show, but he will send shockwaves through the boxing world because his violence is now coming from a more systematic place, a place of intelligence, he's not just going out there and throwing punches. He's making them run into punches. It's going to be very, very violent,” Scott warned.
Wilder personally backed up the threats, “If Joseph Parker tries to walk me down, there’s two words for that: Robert Helenius.
“We knew each other very well, but my style had changed a bit from when we sparred, he wasn’t used to me being a mover. He was used to me sitting there, fighting fire with fire. When I switched it up, it knocked him off his game, which caused him to change his game plan up and he started lunging at me, trying to walk me down and the first right hand I threw it knocked him out.
“If Joseph Parker comes out and fights with fire with fire, he will be playing a dangerous game when it comes to me because of the power I have. Because when I come to punch I punch through you, not just to you. It will be exciting to see his game plan, but when he feels the power the first time his game plan is going to change. I’m looking forward to knocking him out, we were meant to fight many, many years ago but he ran from me.”
Wilder vs Parker fight preview
Wilder vs Parker fight predictions
Things you didn't know about Wilder
Things you didn't know about Parker
Article sponsored by HÖRFA