Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder have the chance to put down markers tomorrow when they fight on the same ‘Day of Reckoning’ bill in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua and Wilder are likely to meet in 2024 – assuming there are no hiccups this weekend – with talks regarding a two-fight deal already underway.
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Joshua, who has beaten Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius in his last two outings, takes on the dangerous Otto Wallin, who is confident in his ability to spring a surprise.
Wallin told TNT Sports: “I am coming off a great win, best win of my life [against Murat Gassiev], and now right back in there to fight AJ. I think I’m in a really good place and he is not at his peak.
“He is coming off a good win against Helenius but he was supposed to win that. I think I am in a really good position and I don’t think the same for him.
“I am going to do whatever it takes to win. I have been working for this my whole life and I am ready for it.”
Wallin is a southpaw – as is Oleksandr Usyk, who twice beat Joshua – but the Brit does not believe he has a particular problem against that style.
JOSHUA AND WALLIN FACE OFF!
Anthony Joshua is focused, but Otto Wallin is full of smiles 😄#DAYOFRECKONING | Saturday | TNT Sports Box Office PIC.TWITTER.COM/NABUTCJQMD
— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) DECEMBER 21, 2023
He told the Daily Mail: “It will be really good. It will be entertaining, tough, gruelling, challenging. I will rise to the occasion. My goal is to have my hand risen at the end.
“I got beaten by one of the best southpaws in the world [in Usyk]. Could I have done better, 100 per cent. Will I do better if I have another chance? Yes. But, I just got beaten by a better fighter than me on the night.
“It’s not that I struggle with southpaws. I struggled with the opponent on the night. Otto Wallin is a completely different opponent. Let’s just see how we get on.”
Wilder ought to have it easier against Parker, despite the fact the New Zealander has been training with Tyson Fury.
The big-hitting American predicts he will knock former WBO champion Parker out.
He said: “Most definitely. That’s what brings excitement to the heavyweight division. The explosiveness, the excitement and, of course, the secret recipe, the knockout.
“When people come to see heavyweight boxers, they come to see the knockout.
“I thank God that I’m blessed with a blessing and a curse in a right hand that I can deliver and give people what they pay their hard-earned money to see.
“It’s something that I’m naturally born with and I naturally do. If you want to see knockouts, put Deontay Wilder on the card. If you want to see excitement, put Deontay Wilder on the card and I’m on the card.”
