Boxing promoter Frank Warren believes former WBC world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder was nursing an damage heading into his struggle with Joseph Parker at Day of Reckoning in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. Wilder, 38, was defeated by Parker, 31, in a convincing unanimous determination.

The defeat condemned the Bronze Bomber to only one win in practically three years. His final victory got here in October 2022 towards Robert Helenius contained in the Barclays Center, in New York. “I thought he [Wilder] looked pretty dreadful,” Warren informed talkSPORT. "He did a very good job, Joe, right from the start.”

Warren then revealed a member of Wilder's team suggested the American had an injury of some kind heading into Saturday's fight. He added: “I really don’t know what he does now, Deontay. I was just talking to Shelly Finkel [Wilder’s manager] and they were telling me that he had a problem. He went into one of those Cryochambers and sat in it for a long time. I don’t know. Obviously, there’s going to be some excuse.”

Wilder's loss to Parker has all but ended his chances of inking the reported two-fight deal to take on two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, who won his fight against Otto Wallin on the same card.

So far, though, Wilder has taken the humble approach. "I did [think he did enough to win], however my timing was off just a little bit,” Wilder mentioned. "Joseph did a great job in avoiding my punches. We make no excuses tonight, it was a good fight and we move on to the next thing. Like I said, timing was off a little bit, he did a good job of avoiding and ducking. I did feel like I had the upper hand, but things happen."

Speaking within the ring after his defeat, Wilder additionally refused to rule out retirement. He did, nonetheless, change his tune when he bought again to his lodge room. “I’ll be back,” he insisted in a video. AJ's promoter, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, expressed his disappointment within the outcome after it canned plans for a profitable scrap between his man and Wilder.

"I said in the build-up I don't rate him," he claimed. "Wilder had no idea, no clue. He lost every round. He had his hand up telling the referees he won the fight.

"He's not proper. That's the truth. It was essentially the most one-sided heavyweight struggle I've ever seen. It's ruined our plans."