Four-division world champion and former WBA Heavyweight titlist Roy Jones Jr has offered his verdict ahead of this weekend’s blockbuster ‘Day of Reckoning’ card, which sees Anthony Joshua return to the ring against Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin.
Joshua has been linked to a clash with Deontay Wilder for half a decade, and now it seems that a deal between the two rivals is closer than ever.
Should, the two both be victorious on Saturday night, fans will expect an announcement for the long-awaited showdown, with whispers that the pair will meet in March.
However, ‘AJ’ would be wise to stay focused on the tricky task at hand, with Wallin seeking to disrupt the Brit’s plans for 2024.
In an interview with ProBox TV, Jones said that the potential Wilder fight could be a much-needed motivating factor against ‘All-In’ Wallin.
“I like Joshua but with Joshua, here’s the problem, you never know which Joshua is gonna show up. One day Joshua shows up and looks like a former world champion, and one day Joshua shows up and looks like a guy who’s not interested.
His interest level is what will tell me how well he’s going to do in that fight, because if he’s not interested he could very well get beat, but if he’s interested then Otto shouldn’t be enough to really cause him a problem. With a bigger payday on the back side of it, if you beat this guy you get a bigger payday to fight Wilder, you probably should get off your behind, get right, and go ahead and beat this guy [Wallin].”
“So, I like Joshua to win the main-event but like I say, Joshua has to be focussed and coming in ready and willing to be Anthony Joshua to win the main-event.”
Meanwhile, Wilder will fight former WBO Champion, Joseph Parker, in the co-main event of the historic DAZN PPV card on Saturday December 23.