ANTHONY JOSHUA has been warned his short-notice Saudi showdown with Otto Wallin could scupper his world title dreams.
The Watford warrior will bid to set up a blockbuster bout with long-time rival Deontay Wilder with an explosive knockout in his December dust-up with the durable Swede.
But slick southpaw Wallin, who took Tyson Fury the distance in their 2019 showdown, could prove to be a major banana skin in the Brit’s bid to tee up the grudge match on his road to becoming a three-time world champion.
Former WBC heavyweight champion Wilder will also be in action on the card, locking horns with Joseph Parker in the co-main event of the evening,
And Parker’s coach Andy Lee can’t for the life of him understand why Saudi boxing chiefs haven’t just splashed the cash to make Joshua versus Wilder.
Former WBO middleweight champion Lee said: “This is a potential banana skin for him [Joshua].
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“I don’t know what they’re thinking and who the brainbox behind this is.
“Because Wilder and Joshua should be fighting now. Just get in there and fight each other.
“Everybody has been waiting for this fight. You’re not gonna be any better.
“The two fights you’re about to have are potentially going to take a lot out of you, even in winning it.”
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Lee insists neither Parker nor Wallin will roll over and let Joshua and Wilder pick up easy wins.
The cousin and former trainer of of WBC heavyweight king Fury, said: “Joseph, he isn’t going to lie down for anyone.
“Joseph is gonna out there and throw his hands. And Joe is punching extremely hard.
“And Wallin is [a] seriously solid and good fundamentally European fighter.
“And a southpaw with Joey Gamache in his corner – who is one of the best boxing men in the game.
“This is crazy, they’re risking it all. We’re not taking no risk. We’ve got it all to gain. They’re taking the risk.”
Joshua, 34, will enter his clash with Wallin on the back of consecutive victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.
Wilder, meanwhile, faces Parker following a 14-month hiatus after his brutal first-round knockout of Helenius last October.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
