by Saudi Arabia’s grip on serious boxing will strengthen in Riyadh on Saturday night when Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder appear on a bill that promises to pave the way for the two former world champions to fight each other in the same city in March. Many reports have suggested that Joshua and Wilder have already signed contracts for next year’s event but both men, for all their shuddering power, are still in danger and have difficult opponents. this weekend.
Joshua has looked pedestrian in his two fights this year, and Joshua seems to have lost much of the explosive spark and good humor that once made him the richest and most popular heavyweight in the world. He lost to middling opposition in Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius while coming back from back-to-back world title losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and now faces a right-footer in Otto Wallin.
Related: Anthony Joshua says losing to Otto Wallin would end his career
Joshua struggled against Usyk, another right-footer, who was outside, and Wallin has only lost one fight so far – when Tyson Fury was in danger of being pulled out of his bout after suffering cuts that needed with 47 subsequent stitches to repair. Wallin, a 33-year-old Swede, is a strong and determined opponent, and more importantly, he seems to believe he can beat Joshua.
A more detached perspective would expect Joshua to have too much experience and firepower. That knockout punch resurfaced in August when Joshua dropped his hands in seventh place after fifty-six rounds.
But Joshua’s work in recent years has been limited which reinforces the argument that he has never been the same fighter since he walked on fire to beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2017. After losing to Usyk for the first time , Joshua left his long term Trainer, Rob McCracken, who guided him to the Olympic gold in London 2012, and joined Robert Garcia – that he could not prevent Joshua from losing again to Ukraine. He then moved to Dallas to work with Derrick James this year. But he switched camps again and prepared for Wallin with Ben Davison, who used to train Fury, in his corner.
Both Wallin and Wilder have been impressed by Joshua’s uncertain mood – the British fighter did not sound inspired as he began Thursday’s press conference. “I’m trying to do a good job. What else can I say?” Joshua sighed for a man who has endured far too many press conferences in the 10 years and two months since his professional debut. “I’m here to fight, I’m not here to partying and dealing with the glitz and glamour. Of course I’m nervous because I want to perform. I want to win.”
Wallin spoke as much about Joshua’s state of mind as his own characteristics. “I’m a bit of a trifle, I’m a good fighter. Also, he has a new trainer, which could be difficult. He used to be a happy man but from what I see now he looks very tough. Maybe he’s tired of all this stuff.”
Wilder also answered questions about Joshua. “A lot of media were asking me about his behavior. I said you are putting a lot of pressure on him. He must focus on Otto Wallin, because 100% Wallin focused on him. I don’t know where Joshua’s mind is, I don’t know what he’s thinking. Maybe it’s all a facade, maybe it’s smooth. Maybe he’s calm, maybe he’ll prove people wrong. But I would tell him not to worry about the talks [for Wilder v Joshua].”
Wilder needs to heed his own advice. He took Fury to Hell and back, knocking down the WBC world champion twice before Wilder himself suffered a violent defeat in the 11th round of their third fight in October 2021. After fighting each to a draw in 2018, Fury won his second fight. with another stop in early 2020. Wilder may still be the most destructive puncher in boxing but that fierce trilogy will have taken a chunk out of him. He has fought just one round in the 26 months since Fury stopped him for the second time. In October 2022 he beat Helenius and had a chilling power in less than three minutes.
The American brushed aside concerns that he may be suffering from ring rust against Joseph Parker who has already fought and won three times this year – with his most recent victory coming two months ago when he was impressive at beating Simon Kean within three rounds in Riyadh. Parker is also a close friend and training partner of Fury – and is trained by Andy Lee who was instrumental in Fury’s planning against Wilder in 2020.
“I don’t really get ring rust,” Wilder said. “Although my body is not in the ring, my mind has never left. I’m ready to go.”
Wilder hits so hard that 42 of his 43 wins have ended in a brutal stoppage. “It’s always music to my ears because none of these guys’ power matches mine,” Wilder said. “The numbers don’t lie and the numbers tell the truth. If he wants to have a shootout it will be even sooner than expected. Today, my name is Dr. Sleep and I hope he brings a pillow and blanket as it gets a little chilly at night.”
Both Joshua and Wilder should win, even if logic doesn’t always prevail in heavyweight boxing, and set up their March shootout. Whatever the outcome, the Saudi’s control of the division will not be affected as their biggest fight will also be next year when Fury and Usyk meet in February to decide who will be the first world heavyweight champion since 1999.
Boxing’s refusal to consider Saudi Arabia’s appalling human rights record risks being forgotten as all these elite heavyweights rake in the cash – while facing their own demons in the ring.
