BRITISH mogul Anthony Joshua put on a masterclass that forced Otto Wallin’s corner to pull the Swede out after five dominant rounds in Riyadh.However there was a big shock in the co-main, with Deontay Wilder BLOWING the prospect of his AJ fight after being battered to defeat by Joseph Parker.
And it could mean a new opponent will be lined up for Anthony Joshua which Eddie Hearn has all but confirmed.
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‘Mental boost for Joshua’
Anthony Joshua’s decisive victory over Otto Wallin could be as good for his mental state as it is proof of his brilliant physical condition.
That’s the verdict of fellow British ex-world champ Lennox Lewis.
He said: “I think it does good for his mental state.
“Everybody saying he’s back, but there’s still a long road ahead, and some hard fighters.”
‘I’d rip Wilder apart’ – AJ
Anthony Joshua predicts Deontay Wilder will return but warned him: “I’d rip you apart.”
AJ’s five-round win contrasted with Wilder’s plodding points loss on the same Saudi bill.
That seemingly wrecked plans for the Brit to meet the American next year.
But after dispatching Otto Wallin, Joshua said: “I heard Deontay lost, so what? He will come back.
“Everything Deontay said about me, I could rip him apart right now but I’m going to take the high ground and I hope he comes back.
“You can do anything, just don’t give up, if he wants he can come back and fight another day.”
Joshua to assess March date
Anthony Joshua’s next fight date is up in the air after he put himself in a “wonderful position” with victory over Otto Wallin.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said: “Does he want to fight in March? We’ll speak to [trainer] Ben [Davison], I know he’ll want to stay active I think.”
“I think he’s in a wonderful position. I think that was a statement to say he’s the man, he’s the man to watch in 2024.”
‘No way Fury could beat AJ’
Eddie Hearn claims Anthony Joshua is now back on top of the world and would definitely beat Tyson Fury.
AJ’s promoter Hearn said: “There is absolutely no way Tyson Fury beats Anthony Joshua, no way! No way!
“But let’s get behind Fury to beat Usyk and let’s get that fight made. That is the biggest fight of all time, in the history of the sport.”
Lennox claims AJ needs Fury or Zhang next
Heavyweight legend Lennox Lewis claims Anthony Joshua must fight Tyson Fury or Zhilei Zhang next to prove he’s truly back.
Lewis believes Otto Wallin was so poor that it was difficult to tell if AJ’s third straight win was an improvement.
The two-time champ told TNT Sports: “I couldn’t really judge with this fight if he’s back or not.
“He definitely looked good. He did what he was supposed to do, go out there and take out a guy you’ve taken out in fights before.
“The guy didn’t have any definition in his body. I don’t know if he worked hard or if he was in training camp or whatever, and I didn’t see him throwing any punches that actually connected, because AJ looked good after the fight, like a movie star, like he wasn’t even in a fight.
“I think it does good for his mental state, everybody saying he’s back, but there’s still a long road ahead, and some hard fighters.’
“He’s still got to go up against Tyson Fury – if that fight’s going to be made. I think that’s going to be a great fight for him.
“Zhang from China would be a great fight for him as well. There’s a couple of guys out there still wandering around.”
Fans hail ‘bully’ AJ
Boxing fans praised Anthony Joshua online after his “bullying” victory over Otto Wallin surpassed expectations.
One said: “This is not a balanced fight. More like oppression.”
Another posted: “Well done AJ. Hope you’re proud.”
And a third joked: “This ain’t a boxing match, this is bullying.”
But some viewers claimed Deontay Wilder’s conqueror Joseph Parker would trouble the British heavyweight.
One pleaded: “Joshua please fight guys who have steel hands not paper.”
And another argued Parker would “eat him” – perhaps because a few fight-lovers insisted Joshua was “slow”.
Wilder claims he has a ‘little bit left’
Beaten Deontay Wilder doesn’t appear to have written off a shot at Anthony Joshua – at some stage.
Joseph Parker tore up the script with a dominant win over the American big-hitter – while AJ stuck to it with a powerful demolition of Otto Wallin.
Wilder seemed to admit all the talk beforehand of fighting Joshua was a distraction.
He said: “It was a lot of talk about a lot of things.
“We make no excuses. We’ll be back for sure. We have a little bit left.”
Joshua posts victory message
Anthony Joshua looked imperious as he toasted and posted victory.
The Brit shared tow awes-inspiring snaps from the ring on social media.
And he added the words: “All praise to the most high.”
AJ salutes Ruiz
Anthony Joshua didn’t forget his low point of his career after achieving the highest level of his comeback.
After dispatching Otto Wallin for a third straight comeback victory, AJ spotted Andy Ruiz Jr and beckoned him over for a fist-pump and a glove-shake.
Ruiz was a 25-1 outsider when he dethroned Joshua in 2019 before the Brit won the re-match.
Now AJ believes he is on the brink of topping the world once again.
Wilder loss may be ‘blessing’ for Joshua
Eddie Hearn claims Deontay Wilder’s shock loss to Joseph Parker could be a “blessing” for Anthony Joshua.
AJ was set to meet Wilder – but now Croat Filip Hrgovic will probably be his next opponent.
Following Joshua’s outstanding win over Otto Wallin, promoter Hearn suggested the Brit’s bid to become a triple world champ could now be boosted.
He said: “It was a tough decision between the championship and Deontay Wilder
“We signed for Wilder, he lost. But maybe it’s a blessing because he wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.
“Now it’s gonna be AJ vs Hrgovic for the world title.”
AJ desperate to fight Fury next
Anthony Joshua would “100%” to meet Tyson Fury next – but Filip Hrgovic is now the man most likely.
Hrgovic would step in if, as predicted, either Fury or Oleksandr Usyk vacate the IBF title before the second contest of their two-fight deal.
And asked who he wants to take on next, AJ said: “100% Tyson Fury but I’m not dodging Hrgovic, I’ll fight Hrgovic as well.”
AJ hails ‘lightbulb’ link-up with new trainer
Anthony Joshua says he’s switched his career back on after a “lightbulb” link-up with new trainer Ben Davison.
AJ believes his fifth trainer in two year has helped transform him, leading to the third and by far the best of his three straight wins.
Joshua dominated in a five-round triumph against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia yesterday.
Davison used to train AJ’s British heavyweight rival Tyson Fury.
And Joshua said: “He’s a scholar of the game and when we spoke, he saw what I have been trying to achieve in the business.
“And you know when someone understands you and the lightbulb comes on and you just finally get it? That was it.
“He hasn’t tried to change me. He is still trying to push me towards what I’m trying to achieve but he’s done it in a way where, because he knows boxing, he knows what I’m trying to do and he knows how to get it out of me.
“You would have to ask him because he’s quite articulate and he will give away quite a lot. But he switched a lightbulb on in this training camp.”
Joshua ‘now unbeatable’
Eddie Hearn reckons Anthony Joshua showed he is now “unbeatable” after completing his rehabilitation.
AJ’s promoter hailed the heavyweight’s third win of the year as proof the 34-year-old is better than ever.
He said: “It was a punch-perfect performance.
“He dispatched him. It was a stunning performance, in this mindset and this team, I think he’s unbeatable.”
Hearn added: “He’s back, he’s destroying people in sparring. I believe he’s the best heavyweight in the world.”
Francis fancies Wilder clash too!
Francis Ngannou enjoyed Deontay Wilder’s defeat to Joseph Parker and teased a fight with the loser.
The former UFC champion made a crossover to boxing when he faced Tyson Fury in October.
Ngannou, 37, narrowly lost that clash but after watching Wilder struggle against Parker he fancies his chances against the big hitter.
Wilder lost via unanimous decision with the judges scoring the contest 120-108, 118-11 and 118-110 in the Kiwi’s favour.
Ngannou took to X to mock Wilder, saying: “Licking my lips after watching this fight.”
The Cameroonian heavyweight is rumoured to have held talks with Wilder’s camp over a potential mixed rules fight.
After leaving the UFC Ngannou signed for the Professional Fighters League, whose CEO Peter Murray named Wilder as a future opponent.
He said: “Absolutely, ongoing. I’m going to see Deontay [Wilder] next week and we want the four-ounce gloves on him with Francis in the cage.”
Ngannou hints at AJ fight bid
Francis Ngannou appears to fancy a shot at Anthony Joshua.
The UFC legend, 37, was controversially denied victory over Tyson Fury when losing his boxing debut on points in October.
And he saw Joshua surprise many too – with the style of his five-round victory over Otto Wallin.
Ngannou posted: “Great performance tonight AJ” – adding the hashtag #NgannouJoshua plus a thoughtful emoji face.
‘He was s***’
Derek Chisora, 2023.
Never one to mince his words, Derek Chisora has given his verdict on Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller last night.
He also spoke about his next fight, and not wanting to take on boxers with good records on paper but struggle against ‘real fighters’ such as Miller and Arslanbek Makhmudov.
He told IFL TV: “Jarrell Miller didn’t have a jab at all. He wasn’t jabbing, just walking forward. Daniel realised he had to dig deep, and he went all out — that was beautiful to watch.”
Asked if he fancies a fight against Big Baby Miller, he said: “No. I don’t want that. Daniel already beat him, I want someone who is amazing. I want there to be a fear factor when I walk in the ring.
“I want to be nervous and train harder. Baby Miller hasn’t fought a boxer, he’s knocked out taxi drivers and he’s knocked out nobodies.
“He’s a good salesman, but when they fight a real fighter, they find it hard.
“It’s the same as the Russian [Arslanbek Makhmudov]. Agit Kabayel was amazing but the Russian was s****. He was s****. He got spanked.”
Usyk revenge?
Anthony Joshua’s trainer Ben Davison has touted Oleksandr Usyk as his preferred opponent. He’s confident that AJ can avenge his defeats in style.
Davison told IFL TV: “AJ executed. He was professional, well prepared.
“He was very professional to work alongside, very enjoyable and I’m pleased that he got the fruits of his labour.
Asked if he was going to be AJ’s trainer going forward, he responded: “Every fight is fight-by-fight with any fighter, so we’ll have to see.”
On Joshua’s next opponent, Davison said: “Just off emotion, I told him that we would like to put the Oleksandr Usyk fight right for him.
“I’m very confident that we could help him do that.”
Credit: getty
‘It’s been a pleasure’
I mentioned earlier that I thought Deontay Wilder had hinted at retirement after his loss to Joseph Parker. See what you think.
He said: “We have a little bit more left. I’ve done a great job with managing my money and investing. I’m a happy fighter. I’ll be back soon and if not, it’s been a pleasure.
“I’ve found a lot of peace and happiness in my life.
“I’ve been wearing this smile all week long. I’m blessed. I gave it all I’ve got. You can’t quit or give up, you must keep going.”
Credit: getty
Fury next
Glad someone is thinking with their head! It’s the one we all want, and it’s the one that has to happen. Lennox Lewis agrees,
But there’s always a catch, and that is providing Tyson beats Oleksandr Usyk in their undisputed battle next year.
“He’s still got to go up against Tyson Fury, I think that’s going to be a great fight.”
‘Be on notice’
You heard the man! Eddie Hearn thinks AJ is the best in the world and hints that a title fight is more likely than the battle with Deontay Wilder.
He said: “AJ is back. I believe this Anthony Joshua is the best in the world. He broke Otto Wallin down. He broke his nose. With this mindset and this team, I think he’s unbeatable.
“It’s a tough decision between the championship and Deontay Wilder. We signed for Wilder but he lost tonight. I’m so happy to see him smiling. Every heavyweight should be on notice. He’s back.”
Credit: GETTY
Fighter of the night?
Oh now that’s a tough call.
It’s got to be between Anthony Joshua, Daniel Dubois, Joseph Parker or Agit Kabayel.
Parker took on the most dangerous opponent and completely nullified his biggest threat, although perhaps Deontay Wilder wasn’t at his best.
Kabayel caused the biggest upset of the night with the bookmakers, winning at around 6/1. He totally outboxed Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Daniel Dubois got the nod from Frank Warren when asked this question, but I doubt you’ll find that too surprising.
But it was just great to see the return of AJ. Back to his ruthless best.
Credit: getty
Would AJ have retired if he’d lost to Otto Wallin?
Anthony Joshua says theres no chance he would have retired if he’d lost to Otto Wallin, following emphatic victory in Saudi Arabia
How it unfolded
That was a pretty special night. Here’s the results from the main card
Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via fifth-round KO.
Joseph Parker def. Deontay Wilder via unanimous decision.
Dmitry Bivol def. Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision.
Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller via 10th-round TKO.
Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov via fourth-round TKO.
Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro via first-round KO.
Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Mori via first-round TKO.
Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa via seventh-round TKO.
‘This guy is about championships’
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, speaking to TNT Sports: “I believe this Anthony Joshua is the best heavyweight in the world. That was a punch-perfect performance tonight. A stunning performance. One that says he is back. With this mindset in this team, I think he is unbeatable. 2024 will be massive for him.
“It was a tough decision between the championship and Wilder. We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight, that’s OK, it happens in boxing. Maybe it is a blessing because this guy is about championships. He wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. It will be Filip Hrgovic against AJ for the world title.
“I am so happy to see him smiling and performing so well. He is a dangerous man when he is in that kind of mood. 2024 is going to be very interesting, every heavyweight should be on notice – he is back.”
Credit: GETTY
‘I could rip him apart right now’
Rip him apart verbally, of course. Although…
Anyway, here’s what Anthony Joshua had to say after tonight’s encounter.
Speaking to DAZN, AJ said: “I can’t rate my performance. Ben Davison, my performance team, I’ll leave it up to them.
“Tonight was just another fight. I respect Otto. Not so much a throwback fight, just another day in the office. Victory by any means. Like Otto, you want to do whatever it takes to be victorious. That’s all I want to be.”
Asked about Wilder’s loss, he added: “I wasn’t watching. I just focused on myself. I know how important it was for me. I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back. Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.”
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