The British Anthony Joshua left no chance to the Swede Otto Wallin to achieve his third victory in a row in 2023, during the last major boxing event of the year on December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The American Deontay Wilder lost unanimously to the New Zealander Joseph Parker.
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THE ” Day of Reckoning » (Judgement Day) did not deliver the same verdict for everyone among heavyweights. On the occasion of the last major boxing event of the year, organized in Riyadh in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder returned to the ring on December 23 during an evening which was to prepare for a potential future clash between the two fighters in 2024.
The Briton Anthony Joshua, former WBA, WBO and IFB heavyweight champion (34 years old, 1m98, 111 kg), did not have to force his talent to win against the Swede Otto Wallin (33 years old, 1m97, 116 kg). After two first rounds of observation between the two fighters, Joshua then took control of the confrontation by accelerating against his opponent.
More offensive and precise than the Swede, “AJ” first made him wobble at the end of the 3rd round thanks to a powerful left hook. He continued to attack him during the 4th round by placing several blows through his defense, while Wallin tried to hit him on the counterattack but without much success. The 5th round was ultimately fatal to the Swede: victim of another devastating hook from Joshua and on the verge of breaking, Wallin was forced to give up before the resumption of the sixth round.
For his 29th fight, Wallin conceded a second career defeat against the Briton. Joshua for his part won his 27th victory in total, the third in a row in 2023, thanks to this technical knockout inflicted on his opponent. After losing his belts following a double setback against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, better than him in 2021 and 2022, Joshua was in great shape in Riyadh and will try to reconquer the heavyweight category in 2024.
Wilder powerless against Parker
The other star fight of the evening pitted two former heavyweight world champions: the American Deontay Wilder (38 years old, 2m01, 97 kg) against the New Zealander Joseph Parker (31 years old, 1m93, 112 kg). While Wilder is feared for the power of his punches and his ability to inflict dazzling knockouts on his opponents, he has never managed to find the solution against an explosive Parker who took him at his own game.
The New Zealander began to show himself more enterprising from the 4th round against a very wait-and-see Wilder, before placing a good hook during the 5th round. He then had a very good sequence at the end of the 8th round, peppering Wilder with blows in the corner of the ring. At the end of the 12 rounds, Parker logically won unanimously on points against Wilder, who seemed helpless throughout the fight and never really able to impose his boxing. “ I have a lot of respect for Wilder but we trained very hard for this, Parker commented after the fight. It’s huge and he’s the best opponent I’ve ever faced. »
The American ends the year with a third defeat in 47 career fights and sees his future darkening at heavyweight. Parker meanwhile picks up his 34th victory overall and can hope to get a chance to fight for a title in 2024 after his impressive performance in Riyadh.