It was just a few days until Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua crossed the ropes and entered into battle with their respective opponents in Joseph Parker and Otto Wallin.
Wilder will face Samoan-born New Zealander Parker and Joshua has to face New York-based Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin. A loss for both of them would be devastating and could potentially be the end of the road for each of them.
Every one of them knows what it feels like to be defeated, and every one of them knows what it’s like to be knocked down and knocked out.
A 6’7 power puncher, Wilder has made a career of alleviating 42 of his opponents’ senses in the ring, but he has also been bruised, battered and mauled to a state of exhaustion in grueling, grueling fights with Tyson Fury in recent years. years.
In his last fight, he destroyed Robert Helenius in one round with a right hand in October 2022.
Since 2016, Anthony Joshua has experienced the ups and downs of heavyweight boxing, beating Wladimir Klitschko in a tremendous battle, then beating Joseph Parker in a wide points decision and then being shocked and stopped by the potbellied but powerful Andy Ruiz in NY. York in what was seen as one of the biggest surprises in many years.
Ruiz accepted a lucrative ‘let’s do it again’ fight in Saudi Arabia, and entered the fight very heavy and lethargic. Joshua came back fighting with gusto, winning a wide points decision and thus back on the road to glory.
The next matchup, in September 2021, was against Ukrainian Olexander Usyk in a fight that many people thought would be a step too far for the experienced Ukrainian boxer. In the fight, Usyk was out-pushed and out-punched, Joshua thought, hurting the Englishman late and dominating to beat him on points.
Once again, Joshua returned to fight Usyk in their rematch the following June and, although he put up a better fight, he hurt Usyk to the body but never had the grunt or energy to finish him off when he could, leaving Usyk free to win. by a split decision in Saudi Arabia.
Many thought their days were over and many questions arose. Did he want to fight? Did you have the desire? I needed it? While the media cruelly wrote him off, Joshua returned in early 2023 beating American Jermaine Franklin on points. Again the media attacked him and asked him more questions. Joshua responded by knocking out Deontay Wilder’s victim, Robert Helenius, in the seventh round.
While Wilder has been physically knocked down, there is no doubt that this man. He exudes self-confidence and believes in his ability.
Joshua, on the other hand, hasn’t been physically beaten, but he has shown vulnerability with his actions and behavior in the ring and with the media that somewhere inside there is a nagging sense of doubt that won’t leave him.
Otto Wallin is a great left-hander who is not known for his power. He is a 12-round fighter who relies heavily on being in your face all night. He feuded with Fury and proved to be a real problem for the WBC champion. His last five fights have been point victories.
Joseph Parker has made a lot of money in boxing, but he hasn’t been spectacular at the championship level. You could say he was lucky to beat Andy Ruiz when they fought in New Zealand. He was then defeated on points by Dillian Whyte and won a decision over Derek Chisora ​​in a close fight. He faced Chisora ​​again a few months later, knocking him down three times to defeat him for a lopsided points victory.
Joe Joyce knocked him down and stopped him in the eleventh round. He has been active in the gym and in the ring in 2023, with TKO victories boosting his confidence against Faiga Opelu and heavy hitter Simon Kean.
With Wilder and Joshua on a collision course, likely fighting in the Saudi Arabian desert in 2024, Parker and Wallin have been brought in to give them both a fight, a challenge, a chance to show what they each have left and put an end to it. to your life. in a show for the oil rich rich.
Prediction
Wilder TKO in the seventh round
Joshua in points.
Gary Todd is an international best-selling author of his books on boxing. ‘Trainings of the greatest boxing champions’ Vol 1 and 2.
Check out his latest book, ‘Annie’s Boy’ at garytodd.org
