Anthony Joshua Agrees to Face Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia, While Deontay Wilder Set for Clash with Joseph Parker on December 23.
Tyson Fury’s delayed bout with Oleksandr Usyk prompts a reshuffle, and Saudi officials are orchestrating a spectacular night of boxing just before Christmas.
Negotiations with Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, led by Turki Alalshikh, are underway to finalize deals for Joshua and Wilder, who are expected to have separate fights on the December card.
Joshua’s potential opponent, Otto Wallin, holds a professional record of 26 wins in 28 fights, with his only loss against Fury in 2019.
Wallin turned in an impressive display that night, opening a large cut above Fury’s eye with a well-timed right hand before falling to a decision defeat.
Wilder meanwhile would take on former WBO champion Parker in the co-main event. The American has fought just one round of boxing in two years, knocking out Robert Helenius inside three minutes in October last year, his first and only fight since his trilogy defeat to Fury.
Parker meanwhile has rattled off three victories in 2023, part of the Fury vs Ngannou undercard last month where he knocked out Simon Kean in three rounds.
Talks are also underway for British heavyweight Daniel Dubois to join the card. A deal for the Londoner, who fell short in his world title fight against Usyk in August, to fight Jarell Miller is currently in the works.
Miller infamously failed a string of drug tests that saw his 2019 showdown with Joshua scrapped.
Other heavyweight fighters who could be involved in the card are Filip Hrgovic, Arslanbek Makhmudov, Frank Sanchez and Junior Fa. Light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, who is still to fight in 2023 is expected to be involved, as could cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.
