- Day of Reckoning Heavyweight Boxing
- Date: Saturday December 23 | Main Card
- Location: Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
- Joshua vs Wallin/Wilder vs Parker
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Joshua vs Wallin/Wilder vs Parker head unparalleled line-up
Three former world champions with aspirations to get back to their best form an exciting double header at the top of the bill in Riyadh. Two-time unified world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is up against Otto Wallin and former WBC world champion Deontay Wilder WBO world title holder Joseph Parker. In addition to this, IBF No.1 contender Filip Hrgovic will fight Mark De Mori in another heavyweight clash. Boxing fans and pundits are speculating that should Joshua and Wilder, who are the bookies’ favourites, emerge victorious, the two could be matched up in 2024.
Joshua vs Wallin
AJ is hoping to continue his comeback and line up a match-up with Wilder, while should Wallin prevail a lucrative rematch could be on the cards.
Anthony Joshua
Given that Joshua’s recent training has been geared to going up against Wilder, a big punching right-hander, he is taking a risk by facing Wallin, giving him just six weeks to prepare for a southpaw If Joshua (26-3, 23 KOs) loses to Wallin (26-1, 14 KOs) he has little chance of facing the likes of Wilder or Tyson Fury next year. Joshua, 34, has limited experience against southpaws, the last one the 34-year-old faced was Oleksander Usyk, who beat him on points in successive bouts in 2021 and 2022.
Otto Wallin
32-year-old Swede Wallin is based in the United States. He went the distance with Tyson Fury in 2019 after the “Gypsy King” suffered a cut early on which later required nearly 50 stitches. Since that defeat Wallin has racked up six victories. He edged out former world cruiserweight champion Murat Gassiev on a split points decision in September, but it can be argued that some of his other opponents have been of limited quality. The fact that both Fury and Gassiev failed to stop the Swede is maybe an indication of his quality.
Tale of the Tape
| Heavyweight | Anthony Joshua | Otto Wallin |
| Age | 34 | 33 |
| Height | 6’6” | 6’5″ |
| Weight | 244 lbs | 237.5 lbs |
| Reach | 82” | 78″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Southpaw |
| Fights | 29 | 27 |
| Wins | 26 – 3 – 0 | 26 – 1 – 0 |
| KO (%) | 23 (79.3%) | 14 (53.8%) |
| Odds | 1/4 | 3/1 |
Wilder vs Parker
Two former heavyweight world champions come together and the two will both be aiming to stay in the top tier of the division. Wilder was WBC champion from 2015 until 2020, while Parker held the WBO title from 2016 to 2018. Both men know that a win could set up a clash with Joshua, which would be financially rewarding but could also put them back on a path to contend for the world titles once more.
Deontay Wilder
Wilder (43-2-1, 42 KOs), is the only man to avoid defeat in a professional bout against Fury. Furthermore Wilder’s only professional defeats came against Fury in the other two fights in their trilogy. Wilder’s main strength is his phenomenal punching power and the “Bronze Bomber” was in negotiations to take on Joshua earlier in the year. Wilder has only completed one round since October when he stopped Robert Helenius in his first fight back since his consecutive defeats to Fury. Going in against a quality opponent such as Parker, who has fought regularly and successfully this year, could be something of a risk. However, Wilder will have the confidence of a man who has swept all but Fury before him. He will be well trained and well prepared and will back his quality and his punching power to overcome any potential rustiness.
Joseph Parker
Former WBO champion Parker has already notched three wins in 2023 and will go in against Wilder in form. The Kiwi will know that becoming the first man other than Fury to defeat Wilder will propel him back to the top end of the heavyweight division, setting up a potential meeting with AJ. Parker will need to fight well tactically, keeping the American at range. Should he fail to do this, then he is in danger of succumbing to the “Bronze Bomber’s” legendary right hand. Should Parker do this successfully, the competitive rounds he has clocked up this year may mean he is better prepared to go deeper into the fight than Wilder.
Tale of the Tape
| Heavyweight | Deontay Wilder | Joseph Parker |
| Age | 26 | 35 |
| Height | 6’7” | 6’4″ |
| Weight | 213.8 lbs | 246 lbs |
| Reach | 84” | 76″ |
| Stance | Orthodox | Orthodox |
| Fights | 46 | 36 |
| Wins | 43 – 2 – 1 | 33 – 3 – 0 |
| KO (%) | 41 (89.1%) | 23 (63.8%) |
| Odds | 1/5 | 15/4 |
Riyadh Season Day of Reckoning: Full Fight Card
The full card for Riyadh Season Day of Reckoning is as follows:
- Co-main event: Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin
- Co-main event: Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker
- Daniel Dubois v Jarrell Miller
- Dmitry Bivol v Lyndon Arthur
- Jai Opetaia v Ellis Zorro
- Filip Hrgovic v Mark de Mori
- Arslanbek Makhmudov v Agit Kabayel
- Frank Sanchez v Junior Fa
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Prediction
Wallin is a tough man to beat, however, Joshua, on his day is a class act. I think that he will come through but given Fury’s inability to knock Wallin out this may well go the distance. Joshua to win.
Parker is quality. He is also in the groove after three wins in 2023. However, the only man to have an answer against Wilder in the pro ranks in Fury. Wilder’s punching power will be the difference. Wilder by KO.
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