Deontay Wilder WBC title aspirations in tatters as Bronze Bomber plummets down the rankings
dailyrecord.co.ukHeavyweight knock-out artist Deontay Wilder's hopes of regaining the world heavyweight title have been dashed, with the 'Bronze Bomber' slumping down the WBC rankings following his defeat to Joseph Parker last month.On December 23, the Alabama boxer suffered a points defeat to former WBO champion Parker, who claimed an unanimous points decision in what was seen as a huge upset that now sees him slump to eighth in the latest published WBC rankings.
With Anthony Joshua fighting Swede Otto Wallin on the same bill at the Kingdom Arena, in Riyadh, Saudia Arabia, it was hoped that both fighters would come through their respective bouts to set up a huge clash in early 2024.Promoter Eddie Hearn had confirmed that contracts had already been agreed between Joshua and Parker ahead of the show in Saudi before Christmas, having previously failed to sign the fight back in 2018.
But Wilder's shock loss has now scuppered any chances of that showdown happening in the immediate future, with former two-time and unified champion Joshua now taking on ex-UFC heayweight star Francis Ngannou, which will reportedly take place in Riyadh on Friday, March 8.Wilder, 38 previously reigned as WBC world champion between 2015 and 2020 before losing his belt in a thrilling trilogy of fights with Tyson Fury.
However the 2008 Olympian has now seen himself fall to eighth in the WBC rankings in the wake of his loss to Parker, meaning another crack at the world title is unlikely.Behind current WBC title holder Fury, (who takes on Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight title in Saudi next month) fellow Brit Joshua has been elevated to the organisation's number one challenger and he is followed by Cuba's Frank Sanchez.
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