Anthony Joshua schedules December fight with Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia
Anthony Joshua will fight on the same bill as Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia on December 23.
The Briton, who is looking to insert himself back into the world title picture in the heavyweight division, will face Swedenβs Otto Wallin in the Middle East.
Joshua, who beat Robert Helenius in his last bout in August, will fight after Wilder, who faces Joseph Parker on the undercard.
πππ ππ πππππππππ π₯ @anthonyjoshua vs. @OttoWallin & @BronzeBomber vs. @joeboxerparker heads up a Christmas cracker of a card on December 23 π#DayOfReckoning | #RiyadhSeason | @Turki_alalshikh pic.twitter.com/GH6Vwq1vLa
β DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) November 15, 2023
December 23 was initially reserved for Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usykβs undisputed heavyweight showdown, which has since been postponed following Furyβs lacklustre performance against Francis Ngannou last month.
Joshua has no doubts he can deliver the required performance as he looks to get back to the top table of the heavyweight division.
βIβm looking forward to delivering my message to Otto Wallin on December 23,β Joshua said at a press conference on Wednesday evening to announce the βDay Of Reckoningβ show which is part of the Riyadh season.
βI canβt predict the future, but I know what I want to do. I believe Iβm going to be a three-time heavyweight champion and the first step is to put a demolition job on Otto Wallin.
π£οΈ βAJ wants to become World Heavyweight Champion again!β β @EddieHearn#RiyadhSeason #JoshuaWallin #DayOfReckoning pic.twitter.com/yAbdTU0ox5
β Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) November 15, 2023
βItβs going to be big β we havenβt seen a card like this before.
βThis is not a one-stop shop. This is a vision, this is my first stop and I will deliver the message. Iβm determined to win and get back to my peak.β
Promoter Eddie Hearn feels the clash with Wallin is not going to be a walk in the park for Joshua.
βThis is a tough fight. We saw him against Fury, heβs a good southpaw and we have seen something different from AJ,β Hearn said.
βI think the best chapter is still to write for AJ.
βHe changed the face of Saudi boxing and this is a challenge he wants to take. He wants to be heavyweight champion again and I think this will be a destructive performance from him.
βWilder is a potentially massive fight to bring in 2024. This lines everything up for AJ and this lines up his whole career. β
Wallin has lost just once in his 28 professional fights, which came against Fury in 2019.
βIt is an easy fight to make for us,β said the Swede. βI didnβt expect to fight again this year. Iβm in a great position and feel on top of the world.
βI have been waiting for this for a long time and I am blessed to be in this position.β
Wilder is confident Parker will offer little resistance, as the American eyes up a potential showdown with Joshua.
βI have the ability to knock a man out with a single punch,β Wilder said.
βIβve been able to do that and it allows people to be fearful of what may happen and that can be harmful to boxing because the fans want to see the best fight the best.
βThatβs what Iβve come to do (KO Parker), itβs the only thing Iβve come to do.β
When asked about a potential fight with Joshua, Wilder added: βItβs good to be in the same room as him and to see him, itβs been a long time coming.
βHopefully soon we can get it on and I wish him nothing but the best.β