Deontay Wilder will have an eye on Anthony Joshua’s fight with Otto Wallin next month after his own against Joseph Parker.
The American returns to the ring following over a year of inactivity against the former WBO World Champion and Tyson Fury training partner, Joseph Parker.
Also on the bill is Joshua-Wallin, the Brit’s third fight this year since his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2022.
‘AJ’ remains a top attraction in the heavyweight division, but fans are tuning in now to see how he approaches fights rather than expecting big time knockouts. He has been branded tentative and gun-shy, but says himself that any new style is born from being a smarter fighter.
His boxing brain will be put to the test against Wallin. The Swedish southpaw took Tyson Fury the distance in 2019, losing but causing a massive gash that was close to changing the course of the fight.
He has built six wins since, and says he is confident of upsetting the odds against a ‘past-his-peak’ Joshua.
Speaking to ES News, Wilder disagreed. He backed his fellow former champion to get the knockout victory.
“Joshua. I think Joshua knocks him out. Six-to-eight rounds.”
He has a vested interest of course – a Joshua win keeping hopes alive for a transatlantic clash between the pair that has been long awaited and over marinated.
2024 now looks like the year to do it assuming both men get victories in December, which is certainly not a foregone conclusion.