Exclusive: Deontay Wilder feeling 'pressure' of potential Anthony Joshua fight, Joseph Parker to seize on 'ring rust'

The monumental December 23 heavyweight boxing card in Riyadh is fast approaching, and TNT Sports' Carl Frampton was mediator in a head-to-head chat between Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker, who will headline the action in Saudi Arabia. Wilder says he is focussed on the New Zealander while others look ahead to a possible meeting with Anthony Joshua, while Parker says he is "all in" for the fight.

Deontay Wilder says "everyone is looking past" Joseph Parker towards a possible super fight between 'The Bronze Bomber' and Anthony Joshua, which the American admits is putting "pressure" on him ahead of his December 23 bout with his Kiwi opponent in Riyadh, live on TNT Sports Box Office.

Wilder and Parker sat down with TNT Sports' Carl Frampton ahead of their meeting to discuss tactics, their heavyweight ambitions, and their opinion on Tyson Fury v Oleksandr Usyk, a fight that will take place on February 17, also in Saudi Arabia.

Wilder v Parker heads one of the most stacked heavyweight cards of all time, with the undercard seeing Joshua fighting Otto Wallin, and Daniel Dubois taking on Jarrell Miller.

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When asked by Frampton who is taking the bigger risk by entering into the fight, Wilder said: "I think it's me.

"I'm taking the biggest risk because they're looking past Parker - but I'm not.

"Joshua is the biggest fight in comeback sport, period. When people talk to me, the main thing they talk about is me and him, all the time.

"It applies pressure because the world wants to see [it]."

Parker has been the more active fighter of late, with three bouts already in 2023, while Wilder hasn't donned his gloves since knocking out Robert Helenius in October 2022 - and that fight only lasted one round.

Deontay Wilder of United States and Joseph Parker of New Zealand face-off speaks during the Day Of Reckoning Press Conference at OVO Arena Wembley on November 15, 2023 in London, England

Image credit: Getty Images

"Deontay hasn't been in the ring for a while, coming into this fight I've been busy, I've been active," Parker said.

"Is he going to bring ring rust? Or is his training going to pay off?

"At this stage of my career, I take the best fights, and the biggest fights, and I don't shy away from challenges.

"A lot of people are wary of him, and scared of the right hand that he possesses, but I'm all in, I'm all for it - I love to challenge myself."

'Not an easy one' – Could Parker cause an upset against Wilder?

Video credit: TNT Sports

When quizzed if he is worried about coming into a short-notice fight with only one round of competitive boxing in two years, Wilder responded: "Not at all.

"When I look at that I just think I'm just reserved, I'm just fresh right now, and just ready to go.

"Most of all, [I'm] just excited. Although this is a short-notice fight that we both have, I'm a world-class athlete. This is nothing short of what I'm used to."

Wilder memorably fought Fury across three fights between 2018 and 2021, with the Briton coming out victorious in the final meeting of the trilogy.

'How does he get up!' - Every angle of Fury knockdown by Wilder in first fight

Video credit: TNT Sports

And the American speculated on the outcome of when WBC belt holder Fury meets WBA, IBF, WBO and The Ring champ Usyk, saying: "You just never know.

"It's all about how good that person is feeling on the night of the fight."

'Day of reckoning' live on TNT Sports Box Office

On Saturday 23 December, fight fans will witness boxing’s greatest champions, head-to-head in what promises to be an action-filled night of entertainment, as part of Riyadh Season. In a UK broadcast first “Day of Reckoning” will be available live on both DAZN and TNT Sports Box Office for fans to watch in the UK and Ireland.

“Day of Reckoning” costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through DAZN or TNT Sports Box Office and is available via the DAZN app on Smart TVs, streaming sticks, tablets, laptops and game consoles, Virgin Media TV, Sky and EE TV.

You do not need to be a subscriber to buy this event and more information on all the ways you can watch can be found at www.dayofreckoning.co.uk

DAZN customers can purchase the fight on www.DAZN.com or via the DAZN app, accessed on their Smart TVs, streaming sticks, laptop, tablets, mobiles and games consoles.

Sky customers can purchase on channel 494 via their remote control or via https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports

Virgin Media TV customers in the UK: customers with a TiVo and/or V6 set-top-box should visit the On-Demand section and choose Live Events; customers with a Virgin TV 360 and/or Stream set-top-box should go to the Pay Per View Events rail.

EE TV customers can go to channel 495 and pay using their remote control.

Customers in the Republic of Ireland can purchase via the DAZN app or through TNT Sports Box Office via Sky at https://www.sky.com/boxoffice/tnt-sports - €29.99 or €34.99 (on the day).

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