Nigerian heavyweight Anthony Joshua is gearing up for his third bout of 2023, poised to take on Swedish powerhouse Otto Wallin in the main event of the “Day of Reckoning” card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The clash, set to unfold today, promises to be a pivotal moment in Joshua’s comeback journey.
Having triumphed over Jermaine Franklin in April and secured a seventh-round knockout against Robert Helenius in August, Joshua aims to extend his winning streak.
However, Wallin poses a significant challenge with his proven skills, particularly his southpaw stance.
Wallin, with only one defeat on his record against Tyson Fury in 2019, showcased his mettle by opening a massive cut above Fury’s right eye during their bout.
While Fury emerged victorious, Wallin’s resilient performance underscored his capabilities.
With a record of 26 victories and three losses, Joshua, who faced setbacks against Oleksandr Usyk, enters the ring as the favorite, boasting remarkable strength, technique, and unyielding determination.
Beyond the thrill of the match, the outcome holds broader significance for Joshua and Deontay Wilder. Both fighters need victories against Wallin and Joseph Parker, respectively, this weekend to set the stage for a potential clash in 2024.
In a parallel showdown, Wilder squares off against former WBO heavyweight world champion Parker.
Wilder, having only fought once since October 2021, faces a determined Parker, who boasts three victories this year and aims to upset the former champion.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, echoed concerns about the challenges posed by Wallin’s southpaw style but expressed faith in his fighter.
“When we say he has an issue with a southpaw, he had an issue with Oleksandr Usyk, who is a pound-for-pound number one, maybe. But Wallin’s good. They’ve sparred rounds before. AJ beat him in the amateurs, it’s a long time ago, yeah, but really, ideally, you don’t really want to be fighting a southpaw, but you should be dealing with Otto Wallin.
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“And we have enough faith in AJ’s ability to take that fight, win that fight, but it will be tricky. And he has to be aggressive in that fight. I believe he will stop him,” he said.
Evander Holyfield, the former undisputed cruiserweight and heavyweight world champion, expresses his belief that if the bout goes the full distance, Joshua is likely to emerge victorious.
Holyfield notes, “Well, (Joshua) has the range. It seems that when opponents don’t apply pressure, he effectively lands his shots and secures the win.”
“I don’t think he stands pressure real well, but if it’s a distance fight and they keep their measurements, he’s going to outpoint him.”
Wilder shared his perspective on the upcoming fight, emphasizing the significance of Joshua’s mental condition.
“I like that fight between those two guys and may the best man win,” Wilder told talkSPORT.
“I see him (Joshua) winning this fight if his mind is in the right place. If he goes in there with self-confidence and the will to win and the motion to go and do what he’s got to do and get the job done then I see him winning that fight. But, if he goes in there thinking about what’s next, especially when it’s pertaining to me or any other thing outside of that then he might be finding himself in some big trouble.”
Fabio Wardley, the British heavyweight champion, noted his confidence in the Swede’s potential for causing an upset, stating on talkSPORT, “I genuinely believe Wallin has a strong chance. He’s a formidable and tricky competitor.”
“(But) I expect AJ to deal with him inside six rounds to be honest. If we get the AJ of old, I almost think he will cruise through this performance.”
Joshua countered Wallin’s reliance on Joshua’s mental state as a strategy, rejecting the approach and underscoring his assurance in his own abilities.
“He should be banking on his skills. He shouldn’t be banking on whether I’m mentally strong or not.
“What I’m banking on is my confidence, my strength, my durability, my chin, my heart, my fitness, my skills. It’s nothing to do with Otto. Everything I’m banking on is everything to do with me. That’s what’s giving me confidence,” he said.
Speaking in his press conference on Thursday, he said, “I know where I’m going in my life but I’ve got to say this is a checkpoint and if I don’t get past this, there is no future so I’m fully locked in to Otto Wallin and doing the job.
“Pure focus on Saturday, that’s with my heart, soul and every cell in my body is focused on Otto Wallin and knowing what I can do.”
At the presser, Wallin also insisted that his talents are being under-appreciated saying, “It’s a big fight and big opportunity I’ve worked hard to be here and now it’s time to enjoy the moment, win the fight and move on.
“I’m going to win the fight and it shouldn’t be an upset, it’s natural and it’s my time, I’m happy to be here. I’m just trying to be myself, people say I talk a lot but I just answer them with what I feel, and I’m not trying to make anything up its the truth if people don’t like it fine, but its true.”
As excitement mounts for the upcoming ‘Day of Reckoning,’ both contenders are preparing for a monumental showdown. Joshua is determined to clinch his third consecutive victory in 2023, while Wallin is eager to defy expectations and leave a lasting impact in the heavyweight division.