Going the distance is normally the last thing that happens in a Deontay Wilder fight. Outside of Tyson Fury, no one has fought the former WBC title holder and lived to talk about it. The same storyline surrounded Joseph Parker. Sure he once held the WBO title for a protracted period, and there’s no doubt that he has some big-time wins under his belt but a matchup with Wilder? Good luck.

Visions of Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) being stretchered out of the Kingdom Arena were prevalent. Simply put, avoiding Wilder's deleterious right hand was seemingly unlikely.

Andre Dirrell plunked down on his couch, turned on his television, and began rooting on his fellow American. Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) has always been a slow starter and selective with his punches but this past Saturday night, he fought incredibly passive. The 38-year-old bounced up and down on his toes and probed the situation but rarely threw punches. Parker, unsurprisingly, took advantage. He outworked Wilder, landed the bigger shots, and was simply the better fighter all night long.

Dirrell, after watching Wilder dance and move for 12 rounds, had one succinct message for the fallen star.

“Someone please tell Deontay Wilder he is not a boxer,” screamed Dirrell on a self-recorded video.

There was a whole lot to critique from Dirrell’s point of view. Wilder appeared gun-shy and unwilling to engage. He also seemed content with remaining on the outside and waiting for the perfect moment, something that never arrived.

Not long ago, Dirrell knew exactly what to expect from Wilder. Sticking and moving was never a part of his DNA. Explosive and violent knockouts, however, always were. So, from one former Olympian to another, Dirrell wants Wilder to stop being docile in the training camp and simply flip the switch to get back to his old self.

“Deontay Wilder please go back to that old mentality, that knockout mentality, that dog eat dog mentality. You are not a boxer bro.”