I think Wilder looked confused. I think Parker's tactics were perfect. I can only recall Deontay using his jab properly in 2 rounds ever and that was the first 2 rounds of the last Fury fight. He has an 83 inch reach. That is a damning indictment of Wilder's trainers.
I do think a combination of age, the losses to Fury and inactivity hampered Wilder's performance. But having said that, prime Wilder probably loses to Parker too. Back when they both had titles I always favoured Parker for the very reasons we saw last night. Hand speed, head and upper body movement to make the limited Wilder miss and by beating Wilder to the punch and putting Wilder on the back foot where Wilder sucks. But after Parker's losses and all the tough fights he had including the stoppage loss to Joyce, I thought Parker would be the more shop worn of the two and at some point Wilder's power would bail him out again in a fight he was losing. I mean Wilder really has only had two fights where he's taken a beating and then the first fight with Ortiz where he was hurt, he's literally only had 3 tough fights maybe 4 if we include the first Fury fight while Parker has had tough close scraps with Takam, Ruiz Jr, Whyte, Chisora and then lost to Joshua and got beat down badly by Joyce, Parker really has taken for more punishment over his career, but I guess age was a factor here. Parker instead shocked me by showing up at the weigh in looking great and then put on the best performance of his career and doing so has been reborn from the ashes like a phoenix when many thought his career was done at the top level but after Fury/Usyk the titles will likely split and could we see Parker pick up a title again, I hope so, would be a fantastic way to end his career.
I agree, I also think he’s just been massively overrated. Against a guy who is not cooked, has fast hands, good durability, and a solid game plan, he had 0 answers. Him in his prime would have struggled last night too imi although he would have actually gone for it much earlier.
Yeah he looked confused and lost in there at times and yes Parker's strategy and execution where flawless last night. Wilder I think was fearful of throwing the jab because the right hand from Parker would be coming after it if he threw it so he became hesitant to throw it. Fact is Wilder has always been used to be the faster guy, usually the much faster guy to go with his height and reach advantages. But Parker is damn fast and beat Wilder to the punch all night. Just goes to show how limited Wilder really is that Parker was literally able to swing for the fences like that without any repercussions. Parker's head movement gave Wilder fits. Despite that huge 83 inch you mention, he couldn't make it count. He's never really fought anyone with good head and upper body movement other than Fury who could make him miss like that. Parker looked damn elusive which again just goes to show how limited Wilder is because while Parker does move his head well, taller opponents usually just use their reach to make him reach in so they can land on him but Wilder just wasn't capable of that. Wilder's trainer, or lets be honest, mate and cheerleader because that's what he did when he hired Scott, hired a mate and cheerleader not a trainer, should be ashamed of the showing their man gave. Much like Wilder's career in parts his corner were a joke.
I look at it like this, every single fight Wilder had before fighting Parker he landed flush with the right hand and it paid dividends for him. This time he barely threw the right hand and when he did he was hitting air or it wasn't landing flush. I don't think he should have been in the ring, there was no urgency, he didn't get out of first gear, it seemed he didn't want to get out of first gear, that's not how you're supposed to approach a world class boxer with so much on the line.
He wouldn’t have listened to them, just like he didn’t listen to mark breland. He preferred surrounding himself with yes men.
Wilder was never any good. Movement always befuddled him and made him hesitant. It’s why it took 12 rounds to drop a mobile fury in the first fight. Why he looked like crap against Szpilka, and Washington. The guy just isn’t very good. Sure if you are fat or non athletic type like Breazale or Stiverne he can line up the right hand take his two steps and unload. Otherwise his career has been smoke and mirrors. And he wasn’t even competitive last night. 38 years old. It’s over for him.