Boxing: American Deontay Wilder, manager fuel Joseph Parker's motivation for 'Day of Reckoning' showdown

Joseph Parker and Deontay Wilder square off at the Day of Reckoning media conference. Credits: Image - Getty, video - DAZN

American Deontay Wilder has lit a blowtorch under his 'Day of Reckoning' bout with Kiwi Joseph Parker at Riyadh on Sunday (NZ time).

The two former world champions will square off on a stacked heavyweight card, hoping to keep their future title hopes alive.

'The Bronze Bomber' has a reputation as one of the biggest-hitting pugilist the division has ever seen and hasn't pulled any punches in pre-fight trash talk.

Wilder insists he wanted this match-up years ago, when he was the WBC champion and Parker held the WBO belt, but claims his rival ran from the fight.

"I truly believe he ran from me," he told the Day of Reckoning media conference. "I've heard he's confident he's going to knock me out, but I find that kind of hard to believe.

"How can you have confidence in yourself as a challenger, when you didn't have confidence in yourself as a champion? That's backwards to me, but whatever floats his boat.

"I'm looking forward to sharing the ring with him and may the best man win."

The accusation seemed to raise the heckles of Parker, who prides himself on chasing fights with anyone. 

"I don't run from anyone," he insisted. "I fight the best in the world everytime.

"Of course, this is a tough test, but I know I can knock him out, 100 percent."

Parker was read a quote from Wilder, claiming he wanted to knock his rival out of the ring.

"I've never knocked a man out of the ring... I want to knock him out of the ring and I don't want nobody to hold him up when he falls. I want him to fall straight on the floor and on the ground, with his arm folded out and looking up into the sky."

Parker responded: "Thank you very much, thank you."

Wilder has confirmed he's hungry for another knockout to add to the 42 he already has from 42 previous wins. Only twice in his career has he gone the distance - a unanimous decision against Bermane Stiverne in 2015 and a draw with Tyson Fury in 2018.

"I come to do what I do best," said Wilder. "I want to give the fans what they want to see.

"At the end of the day, no-one wants to see a 12-round fight. People have things to do - they want to watch a fight and then go party.

"When you're watching me, don't blink. I'll give you what you want to see."

Veteran promoter Shelley Finkel has also expressed confidence in his man.

"It's a great competitive fight," he said. "I like Joseph Parker as a person, but I think Deontay is just going to be too much for him."

With Fury - the only man to defeat Wilder and then again - in his camp, Parker plans to avoid Wilder's renowned right hand.

"I'm here and I'm ready," he said. "I've had a great camp.

"We're going into this fight with a great gameplan, great strategy. Respect to Wilder, but I'm here to do a job and I'm here to win."

Join Newshub at 6am Sunday for live updates of the 'Day of Reckoning', including Joshua v Wallin, Parker v Wilder, Fa v Sanchez