Anthony Joshua closed out 2023 with a dominating win over Otto Wallin in the fight tagged ‘Day of Reckoning‘ in Saudi Arabia. The Nigerian-born boxer left his opponent bleeding the nose in the ring and forced his corner to stop the fight after the fifth round. The bout took place on the same card as Deontay Wilder’s surprising defeat to Joseph Parker, setting the stage for a potential future showdown between Joshua and Wilder. From the opening bell, Joshua showed intent, immediately pressuring Wallin and unleashing powerful combinations. Antony Joshua ends 2023 with win against Otto Wallin – Getty image His relentless attack paid off as he bloodied Wallin’s nose. In the fifth round, Joshua landed a thunderous right hand-left hook combination that rocked Wallin, followed by a barrage of punches that left his opponent reeling against the ropes. Sensing Wallin’s weakness, his corner made the decision to stop the fight, awarding Joshua a technical knockout victory. Looking ahead, Joshua’s next steps remain uncertain, with potential matchups against the winner of the upcoming bout between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury or a showdown with Filip Hrgovic on the horizon. Despite Wilder’s recent defeat, Joshua also remains open to facing him in the future.
Anthony Joshua set for Otto Wallin test in fate-decider Saudi showdown
Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set for a major boxing showdown with Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia today (Saturday). During their final face-off on Friday, Joshua was unfazed, maintaining demeanor even when Wallin was spewing words to his face.. The former world champion will go head-to-head with the Swedish contender, sharing the stage in another fight between Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker. Reports suggest that a two-fight deal is in place for Joshua to face Wilder in 2024, if both win their fights today. Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin set for tonight – Getty image However, despite the potential Wilder matchup, Joshua remains laser-focused on Wallin. “This is the best fight card in history, and I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else in the world right now. If my prayers are answered, I’ll get the win.” “I’m a serious fighter, I’m a serious businessman as well. I’ve got a great team behind me handling business, but let me focus on what I’ve got to focus on. I need to get this win.” During weigh-in, Joshua weighed in at 251lbs, while Wallin stood at 238.6lbs.