Joseph Parker outboxed fellow former world heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in a unanimous points decision win in Riyadh on Saturday.
Parker’s total dominance was reflected by all three judges, who scored the non-title fight 118-111, 118-110, 120-108 in the New Zealander’s favour.
His victory may have scuppered a long-awaited clash between Wilder and another former world heavyweight champion in Britain’s Anthony Joshua, who faces Sweden’s Otto Wallin in the main event of the same bill in Saudi Arabia later Saturday.
Parker, who held the World Boxing Organisation title, was too strong and too skilled as he comprehensively defeated Wilder in what was the former World Boxing Council champion’s first bout in over two years.
Renowned as a powerful puncher, Wilder was involved in a trio of dramatic bouts with current WBC champion Tyson Fury, drawing the first before losing the next two.
Wilder’s long period of inactivity appeared to count against the 38-year-old, with Parker landing the cleaner punches as well as producing several thumping roundhouse rights.
The American briefly rallied in the eighth round but did well to make it to the bell as Parker, 31, hit back with several telling blows in a comprehensive victory.
