Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin LIVE: Updates and build-up to Day of ...

Anthony Joshua admits “there is no future” if he fails to beat Otto Wallin on the “Day of Reckoning” in Saudi Arabia this evening.

The two-time world champion is aiming to win his third fight of 2023 after already gaining victories over Jermaine Franklin Jr and Robert Helenius earlier in the year as he looks to step back to the top of the heavyweight division.

Joshua has three career defeats to date, Andy Ruiz Jr inflicted his first loss in 2019 before Oleksandr Usyk beat him for the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on two occasions.

The 34-year-old understands that defeat could be damaging for his future in the sport.

Luke Baker23 December 2023 10:30

To settle those individual debates diplomatically: Drawing power may depend on geography and demographics; as destructive as “AJ” can be, his American counterpart may have an edge when it comes to power; and while Wallin has a tidier record than Parker, the latter is a former world champion with an arguably stronger resume than the Swede. Wilder, then, may win out – both in likelihood of producing a KO and being upset by his opponent, as strange as that sounds.

Ultimately, though, Joshua vs Wallin has been listed as Saturday’s main event, and that decision can be justified for finer, more intriguing factors than those above.

Firstly, there is Joshua’s history with Wallin. The Briton boxed the Swede twice as an amateur, outpointing him in 2010 and 2011. Each contest lasted just three rounds, but the heavyweights shared the ring again as sparring partners in 2016. At the time, Wallin told Sky Sports: “[In the amateurs] he was strong and fast, but I think he’s better technically and even stronger and faster now. He’s clever, too, now. You’ve got to be clever when you’re sparring him, move your head and be elusive to make him think. If you’re sitting back with him, he is going to get you out of there quick.”

Our Combat Sports Correspondent Alex Pattle breaks down AJ’s latest fight:

Luke Baker23 December 2023 09:45

The business of boxing is simple: build something, find the heavyweights, in this case Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and several others, find the money and they will come. It really is that easy.

It was casino cash in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and now it is investment money from the government that has attracted the boxers, their entourages, promoters, fixers, floaters and other assorted characters in the boxing circus to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

In the Seventies when Las Vegas opened the vault and the Eighties when Atlantic City’s bloody history started, there were fears that boxing would be isolated forever; the worry was that the cash wall, provided by the deep vaults at the casinos, would end free trade. The same false fears have been raised over the ambitions of the current boxing regime in Saudi Arabia. The brutal truth is that it is the responsibility of promoters all over the world to get their act together to compete for the big fights.

Read Steve Bunce’s full analysis of the Saudi boxing revolution:

Luke Baker23 December 2023 09:00

Fair to say, it’s an absolutely stacked card this evening. Here’s how it will all shake out with the event due to begin at 4pm GMT (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with ring walks for the main event – which is currently listed as Joshua vs Wallin – scheduled for 11.45pm GMT (4.45pm PT, 6.45pm CT, 7.45pm ET).

Full card (subject to change)

Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin (heavyweight)

Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker (heavyweight)

Dmitry Bivol (C) vs Lyndon Arthur (WBA light-heavyweight title)

Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller (heavyweight)

Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori (heavyweight)

Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro (cruiserweight)

Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa (heavyweight)

Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel (heavyweight)

Luke Baker23 December 2023 08:30

Wilder, 38, has his own history with Fury, having lost the WBC heavyweight title to the Briton in the middle of their trilogy – in which Fury stopped the American in 2020 and 2021 after a controversial draw in 2018. Wilder, however, bounced back in his sole fight since, knocking out Robert Helenius in round one in October 2022.

Like Wilder, Parker’s aim is to become a world heavyweight champion again, and the New Zealander faces one of his toughest tests yet on Saturday (23 December). The 31-year-old can, however, draw on his experience against the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora.

Here’s all you need to know:

Luke Baker23 December 2023 08:20

Joshua, 34, beat Jermaine Franklin on points in April before knocking out Robert Helenius in August, and now the Briton seeks victory over Wallin – a former opponent of Tyson Fury.

In 2019, Wallin nearly stopped Fury after inflicting a nasty cut on the heavyweight champion. However, Fury battled to a points win, handing the Swede the only loss of his professional career to date. Can Joshua, who twice outpointed Wallin as an amateur, triumph over the 33-year-old again this weekend?

Here’s all you need to know:

Luke Baker23 December 2023 08:10

Anthony Joshua is ready for one of his biggest fights yet this evening when he faces Otto Wallin in Riyadh, knowing he cannot afford a slip-up if he is to advance to a super fight against Deontay Wilder.

The Alabama fighter takes on Joseph Parker, knowing he is due to fight AJ in 2024, in what promises to be one of the most exciting fights of this era.

We’ll bring you all the latest from Saudi Arabia, with news, updates and build-up ahead of a stacked card this evening.

Luke Baker23 December 2023 08:00