Joseph Parker out to spoil the party for Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua

What Joseph Parker plans to do on December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, is the definition of spoiling the party.

While the Saudi megashow may be a treat for boxing fans, the hopefuls of two of the heavyweights on the card appear to be a mere entrée into the main course, with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder anticipating their victories by agreeing to face each other in March. 2024.

Their two respective opponents stand in the way: Swedish left-hander Otto Wallin for Joshua and former world champion Parker for Wilder. Parker thinks he has a chance to upset Wilder, training with two people who know “The Bronze Bomber” better than anyone.

Parker spent an intense few weeks in Ireland and Morecambe, England, training with a man he calls his brother, WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, and under the watchful eye of trainer Andy Lee , who was in Fury's corner when he first beat Wilder. time. All three hatched a plan to beat the powerful American.

While Lee and Fury are cousins, Parker (33-3, 23 KOs) became an honorary member of the clan and a key part of “The Gypsy King's” inner circle after living in Morecambe on and off for most of it. two years. NOW. They all came together once again for another clash with Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KO).

“I'm very confident in the game plan Andy came up with,” Parker told ESPN. “We get good advice from Tyson. He's the only man who's been in the ring with him three times and beaten him twice. [with one draw].

“I have a very good setup in Ireland and Morecambe Bay. One of the [my] During the fights, I used Tyson's house, which he gave me to camp. I have a flat that I stay in when I’m in Morecambe.”

As the boxing world heads to Riyadh for a card that also includes Dmitry Bivol defending his WBA light heavyweight title against Lyndon Arthur, Parker and his team will be putting the finishing touches and final thoughts on his plan to upset Wilder. And Parker not only intends to spoil them, but also to come up with a plan of his own. At 31, he believes time is on his side more than Wilder's.

“It doesn’t take anything away from Deontay Wilder and his team, but he had his time,” Parker said. “What is he 37, 38 years old? Everyone thinks Wilder is the favorite, let them think so. Let them say what they want to say. It's going to be a big party and I I'll be there to spoil it…

“They're trying to put on this massive fight, of course it's going to be a massive fight, but if you count the other people involved it could be your downfall.”

How to avoid Wilder's vicious right hand, which has given him 42 knockout victories, is the question Parker has faced most in the build-up to the fight – and the burning question that will greet him in the ring, but it is a question from which he walks away with complete confidence.

“A lot of people tell me to be wary of his right hand,” Parker said. “No, he must be wary of me and what I'm going to bring.”

Parker's plan will rely on his movement, doing everything he can to avoid that right hand, and his speed. Match fitness won't concern him, while the same can't be said for Wilder.

Their respective timelines couldn't be more contrasting. With just one round of boxing – a knockout victory over Robert Helenius over a year ago – since his last fight against Fury in October 2021, Wilder has been confined to the gym, unwilling or unable to find a partner dance to come back. in the ring with.

In contrast, Parker has been busy, fighting three times in 2023 – three wins, two of them by knockout. Not that they were the toughest fights, but they provided valuable time in the ring and in meaningful camps during preparation.

Parker himself endured periods of inactivity and, by his own admission, was far from his best upon his return. So he knows how valuable it is to be in the ring regularly.

“I think by being active you are able to work on things and stay in shape, and there is nothing better than fighting in the ring in front of a big crowd and getting ready for a big fight,” Parker said. “It depends, for Wilder, is ring rust a thing for him, or can he shake it off and come back fresh? Those will be big questions that we're going to see on fight night.

“You can do all the sparring with different training partners. You can do weights, run, hit the bag, work on mats, but nothing compares to sparring.”