WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder successfully defended his crown with yet another knockout, then immediately called out Kiwi champion Joseph Parker.
It took five rounds for Wilder to find his range against the relatively unheralded Gerald Washington - and Wilder certainly lacked sharpness and timing. Washington looked to have won at least two of the first four rounds and had intermittent success with shots to the head and body.
But Wilder showed his truly destructive power with a stunning right-hand knockdown. Washington beat the count, but the referee hauled Wilder off his opponent after another flurry of combinations. Wilder's record is now a remarkable 38-0, with 37 knockouts, and he can rightfully lay claim to being the most powerful heavyweight on the planet.
In the post-fight interview, he said: "I'm ready for Joseph Parker. I done my part Joseph Parker, now it's time to do yours," obviously referring to the Kiwi's upcoming mandatory WBO bout with Brit Hughie Fury, with a scheduled date of early May.
Wilder's camp stated just a few days ago that he would happily fight in New Zealand - and the potential of such a match-up would certainly take Parker onto a whole new level of global recognition... providing he beats Fury first, of course.
Newshub.
