Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin – Who wins and how?
Two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (26-3, 23KO) and Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin (26-1, 14KO) will clash over 12 rounds on Saturday, December 23, at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the brobdingnagian ‘Day of Reckoning’ card that is co-headlined by Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker.
These former rivals have already met twice before in the amateurs, with Joshua currently two-nil up over the Swede.
So will that have any impact on the fight? BBN asked their panel of experts for their views:
Ricky Hatton
Two-weight world champion
"This is a great fight for AJ. Wallin is a tough opponent and just what AJ needs if he is to face Wilder or Fury down the line.
"Wallin has only lost the once and that was on points to Fury when he caused Tyson all sorts of problems. I think Wallin will be hungry for the rematch and will be looking to make a statement, but I don’t see him beating AJ. I think AJ will be too powerful for him and he will stop Wallin in the latter rounds."
Roy Jones Jr.
Four-weight world champion
"Parker brings more jeopardy to Deontay than Wallin brings to Joshua because if AJ is right and his mind's right, he's a much better fighter.
"Wallin is also a good fighter but AJ has got another gear in him that Wallin may not have. I haven't seen enough from Wallin to suggest he can beat AJ.
"I don't think Wallin is banana skin, I think if Joshua comes prepared he'll be ok, but if he doesn't come prepared then there's a problem, like when Fury didn't come prepared for Ngannou. But I am expecting Joshua to deal with Wallin."
Deontay Wilder
Former WBC World heavyweight champion
"Joshua. I think Joshua knocks him out. Six to eight rounds."
Abel Sanchez
Boxing Writers Association of America trainer of the year 2015
"In my opinion, AJ should win a close decision.
"It may be a very controversial Unanimous Decision, Wallin is an awkward southpaw, kind of in the Usyk mode, just not as talented, but will give big, slow heavyweights problems."
Robbie Davies Jr.
British, Commonwealth & European champion
"I know AJ Beat Wallin in the amateur’s, but I wouldn’t take to much from that.
"I’m expecting a routine points win from AJ. Wallin is tricky and could be awkward at times but think AJ will impose his size and strength and win comfortable."
Steve Bunce
Boxing Pundit
"It's a hard fight, it's a tricky fight but AJ comes through. I think he stops big Otto late in the fight."
Evander Holyfield
Undisputed cruiserweight & heavyweight champion
“Well, [Joshua] got the range. It appears to me that when people don’t pressure him, he gets his shots off then he wins.
“I don’t think he stands pressure real well, but if it’s a distance fight and they keep their measurements, he’s going to outpoint him.”
Tyson Fury
WBC World heavyweight champion
"That's a good move [teaming up with trainer Ben Davison]. It's a very good move. I think it's good for AJ because he's local."
Dmitriy Salita
Otto Wallin's promoter
"Both Otto and Joshua want to fight Tyson Fury. Otto gave Tyson the hardest fight of his career, landing more punches against him than Klitschko and Wilder 1 put together.
"Joshua wants to warrant a fight with Tyson after losing to Usyk. I beleive that Otto vs Joshua is the perfect fight for both. It's a very interesting fight.
"Otto is smart, focused, has a very good chin and is still very fresh. He did not have too many fights where he took punishment. His only loss is a controversial one to one of the greatest heavyweights of our generation."
Eddie Hearn
Anthony Joshua's promoter
"If the belts become available early next year, then it would be number one against number two. If AJ beats Wallin, he puts himself in line to fight Hrgovic for the vacant [IBF] title."
Carl Frampton
Two-weight world champion
"This is massive. Wallin is a very good fighter. He gave Fury a bit of scare and one of the reasons why you know he's a tough fight is because none of the other heavyweights want to mention him.
"It's probably a fight that Joshua thinks he should be winning if he wants to compete with people like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, or Usyk again at some point.
"Although it's far from an easy fight, it's still a fight that AJ should win if he wants to be competing woth the very, very top guys."
Carl Froch
Former super-middleweight world champion
“I do think Otto Wallin has got a chance against Joshua.
“AJ is quite negative and is a bit nervous. If Otto Wallin believes in himself and he sticks it on Anthony Joshua, it could be game over for AJ. If he doesn’t rise to the occasion and meet Wallin with aggression, then this could go wrong.
“I think Wallin does have a chance, I make AJ a 65/35 favourite, but Wallin has definitely got a chance, so don’t rule anything out, this could be a massive upset.”
Leigh Wood
Former WBA World champion
“I’ve seen him in the gym quite a lot. I feel like he’s still got that same focus and mentality.
“The approach he’s got with Ben, he’s like a sponge – he’s absorbing all the information. I can see a lot of similarities between AJ and myself in the way he’s learning. He’s always asking questions and wants to know how it works.
“He’s on the right path and I can’t wait for his fight in December. I think you will see AJ be more clear and decisive with what he’s doing in there, because I feel like he’ll know what he needs to do – whereas in previous fights, he’s a bit apprehensive, thinking ‘It don’t feel right,’ or half-guessing and not confident in what he’s doing, but just doing it anyway.
“I know for this fight he will be clear and decisive, knowing what he needs to do and going out and doing it. A lot of people will say, ‘AJ’s looking more like his old self,’ and that will be because of these things he’s doing [with Davison]. Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s an AJ knockout.”
Ben Day
Former Southern Area champion
"I don’t really think much of Wallin, o be honest. I think he gets stopped 7-8."
George Groves
Former world champion
"Wallin is going to come in and try and be cautious. He's going to try and box and keep it long, pick the shots and might even after a few rounds be thinking about a points win.
"I think Joshua will catch him at some point. I think Joshua stops him."
Fabio Wardley
British heavyweight champion
"Coming out, I think it's going to be a very tricky one for AJ. A bit tentative with a southpaw but eventually he'll settle into the fight and probably finish with a knockout in eight or 10 rounds."
Richie Woodhall
Former world champion
"I think AJ is going to knock Otto Wallin out."
Jamie Moore
Boxing trainer
"AJ by knockout in around seven or eight rounds."
Arijan Goricki
IBO International title contender
"My prediction is that Wallin will make difficult fight for AJ but Joshua will stop him later in fight."
Tim Rickson
BBN Editor
"I think this is a great fight and I'm really interested in seeing it. They've got a history from the amateurs, AJ beat him twice, so Wallin will be desperate for revenge, just like how he's eager to rematch Tyson to even the score. I like his ambition. He's not here for the payday, this is his chance and he will take it with both hands, just like he did against Fury when he gave him one of the toughest nights of his career. I remember him celebrating when he inflicted that horrendous cut and how he kept rubbing it with his glove to make it worse. He wants to win by any means necessary.
"He had a good win against former unified cruiserweight world champion, Murat Gassiev, in his his last fight, where he was mostly countering on the backfoot. He hurt the Russian during the fight but couldn;t finish him off. I don't think he has the power to really trouble AJ, but he is tricky and could win a lot of the rounds if he gets into his groove. I'm sure he has downloaded plenty of data from his sparring sessions with AJ, so he could have a good idea of what to expect.
"What I want to see is the AJ of old, the one that wasn't gunshy and steamrolled his opponents. Andy Ruiz really left his mark on him and he is so much more cautious and unwilling to commit ever since. His last fight ended with a stunning one-punch KO, so if he can let that right hand go then it could end in another KO. However, Wallin has good fundamentals, is experienced, mobile and can ride punches well if he's caught out. Fury couldn't stop him even with big blows to the body, so I think AJ has to target the head.
"If it goes to points, then it could be close, because Wallin is tricky and tough, but I'm trusting AJ to stop this fight in the second half of the contest, perhaps around 8-10. However, Wallin has a good chin, able to take Tyson's best shots and he's never in one place for too long to be tagged copletely clean, so an AJ points win could be equally as likely."
Anish Parekh
BBN Writer
"It's an interesting matchup as Wallin has attributes to make this a very uncomfortable night for AJ.
"Wallin has a nice southpaw jab and move around the ring quite well. However, his success will depend on how much respect he can garner when he lands a big shot. Will it be enough to place doubt into the mind of AJ? If so, it could lead him to becoming hesitant and tentative in his attacks and allow Wallin to continue taking the initiative.
"My hunch though, is that AJ understands what is at stake here. A mega-fight with Deontay Wilder will motivate him to produce his finest form. He won't be the Joshua of old but I can envision him taking the initiative with a solid jab and using his right hand selectively to punctuate his attacks.
"Joshua by clear but competitive unanimous decision."
Buddy McGirt
Two-weight world champion and boxing trainer
"I'm not gonna say who, because I like everybody on the show, but there's one fight that could be an upset."
Artan Verbica
BoxingManager
"He has great character. He live and loves boxing. He sacrificed a lot to come on this level and for that I admire him. He pushed himself on limits and here it is.
"Joshua, for me, is favourite, but will not be surprised if Wallin wins.
"I think will be a great fight. Joshua will be under pressure. Wallin have a tremendous development. He has a great character also.
"I think Wallin will win and will shock the world."
Burim Sylejmani
Boxing Promoter
"I think will be a great fight. Joshua will be under pressure. Wallin have a tremendous development. He has a great character also.
"I think Wallin will win and will shock the world."
Marshall Kauffman
Boxing Promoter
"The Anthony Joshua of old would have taken Wallin out in the later rounds after physically punishing him for rounds.
"The new Anthony Joshua who started to make improvements with Derrick James still has been showing signs of doubt in his ability, so I think if he allows Wallin to stay behind his jab with a lot of combinations then I think Wallin frustrates him as he did Fury and then Wallin will win a close decision.
"I think that Wallin will outbox AJ and win a very close decision."
Sam Condy
BBN Writer
"This is a must-win fight for Anthony Joshua. His career has derailed twice now and a third loss in such quick succession would extinguish any chance of lifting a major world title again. Otto Wallin is a strong opponent with a good resume and would be a challenge for any heavyweight on the planet.
"I think Joshua will be aware of the risks, and come into the fight with a strong gameplan. AJ is the taller fighter with better reach and should look to work around the outside, much like he did during the Ruiz rematch.
"AJ shouldn’t allow himself to get pulled into a firefight, his chin has shown signs of weakness and he can’t afford to test it against a fighter of Wallin’s quality. Wallin may not be the hardest puncher, but neither was Ruiz, he has to ensure he can manage the Swede's output, keeping him from getting inside and unloading combinations.
"I imagine it will be a close but deserved unanimous decision win for the Brit. He is not the same fighter he used to be, and will not look to bulldoze his opponent. Neither do I feel he should. Weaknesses have been identified in his game, and as an elite fighter, he has to adapt to stay at the top.
"A win on the 23rd will set up what has to be the second biggest fight at heavyweight currently, and I think Joshua will be able to get the job done."
Bogdan Musat
Boxing Manager
"I think AJ will take this chance to be back in the "big guys" game and will not give Wallin any opportunities.
"AJ win TKO until round five."
Results
Joshua KO: 43%
Joshua PTS: 43%
Wallin KO: 0%
Wallin PTS: 14%
Joshua vs Wallin fight preview
Things you didn’t know about Joshua
Things you didn’t know about Wallin
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