Wilder calls out Parker for unification bout

I’m ready for Joseph Parker. The question is . . . is he ready for me? Deontay Wilder

Deontay Wilder has called out Kiwi WBO champion Joseph Parker for a world heavyweight unification fight after the American extended his unbeaten record yesterday.

Wilder, the WBC champion, beat Gerald Washington with a fifth-round knockout in Birmingham, Alabama, but it wasn’t an impressive performance.

At the time of his knockout win, the man known as the Bronze Bomber was ahead on one judge’s scorecard and even with Washington on the cards of the other two.

In the fifth round, he put Washington on the canvas with a right cross, left hook combination, and finished it with a left hook when Washington got to his feet.

However, he was subdued in the earlier rounds as his opponent dictated the pace and landed by far the more power punches.

In an interview in the ring after his win, Wilder said his wish was to fight Parker as soon as possible.

“I’m ready for Joseph Parker,” he said. “The question is . . . is he ready for me? I’ve done my part, Joseph Parker, now it’s time to do yours.”

Parker will make the first defence of his title against Englishman Hughie Fury in a fight originally scheduled for April 1 but now more likely to be held in early May. It will probably be in Auckland, but that, along with other details, has yet to be announced.

The 25-year-old Parker, who is based in Las Vegas, did not follow through with his plan to enter the ring following Wilder’s win and announce an alliance of sorts in order to build the profile of boxing in the United States, but he did meet the powerful puncher.

In a video posted by Parker’s promoters Duco Events, Wilder and Parker are seen embracing after the fight, with the American commenting about how much he is looking forward to travelling to New Zealand.

Asked by Parker’s trainer Kevin Barry about how his hands were after the fight, Wilder, who has previously been forced to come back from a broken right hand, replied: “Oh it’s wonderful, it’s good.”

Earlier, heavyweight Izu Ugonoh, Parker’s stablemate, suffered a shock knockout loss to Dominic Breazeale in an incredible all-action fight.

It was Ugonoh’s first fight under new promoter Al Haymon and he was clearly eager to impress against his American opponent Breazeale, who was beaten by IBF champion Anthony Joshua last year. It was Ugonoh’s first defeat as a professional.

Ugonoh controlled the first two rounds with his superior jab and body punching, but appeared too keen to