Heavyweight Boxing Preview: Joshua and Wilder in action

It’s set to be a seismic night in the heavyweight boxing division this Saturday as Anthony Joshua squares off against Otto Wallin and Deontay Wilder faces Joseph Parker.

We preview both fights below.

Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin

Anthony Joshua is a former two-time world champion and has been on a resolute journey to redemption since back to back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, securing victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius earlier in the year. With promoter Eddie Hearn expressing confidence in Joshua’s trajectory towards major future fights, the looming prospect of a showdown against Deontay Wilder adds an extra layer of excitement to Joshua’s narrative.

However, Otto Wallin stands as a formidable opponent, having displayed his mettle in a memorable bout against Tyson Fury, where he inflicted a severe cut on the Briton. As Joshua seeks to solidify his comeback in the heavyweight division, Wallin’s tenacity and skill presents a significant challenge that could test Joshua’s resolve.

In a strategic move, Joshua has enlisted the services of Ben Davison, former trainer to Tyson Fury, signalling the importance of this bout in Joshua’s career trajectory. The matchup against Wallin is viewed by many as one of Joshua’s final opportunities to make a significant run at the world titles, and he starts the fight as the heavy 1/5 favourite.

As we delve into the tale of the tape, Joshua’s towering height of six feet six inches and his impressive record of 26 wins with three defeats position him as a formidable force. Wallin, standing at six feet five inches, brings a southpaw stance, a factor that has troubled Joshua in the past. While Wallin has only suffered defeat against Tyson Fury and lacks experience against opponents of Joshua’s calibre, the Swede’s resilience makes him a wildcard in this heavyweight encounter. He is 3/1 to add another layer of disappointment to Joshua’s record.

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Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker  

In a prelude to a potential blockbuster showdown with Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder faces Joseph Parker on the same night.

The Bronze Bomber enters this bout lacking a bit of match fitness, with Saturday’s appearance marking only his second fight since the memorable trilogy against Tyson Fury that concluded in October 2021. In his last appearance, Wilder delivered a brutal first-round knockout to Robert Helenius, showing he still maintains a degree of sharpness even when not fighting regularly, and is the 1/5 favourite to make it three wins on the bounce.

Parker, on the other hand, brings a wealth of experience and resilience to the ring. Having gone the distance with Anthony Joshua in a unification fight in 2018, Parker has faced tough challenges against Dillian Whyte and engaged in a gruelling war with Joe Joyce in the past year. The New Zealander’s journey to redemption includes victories over Faiga Opelu and Simon Kean, earning him the vacant IBF and WBO Inter-Continental heavyweight titles, and he’s 4/1 to pull off a shock victory against the Bronze Bomber.

From a technical perspective, Wilder’s explosive style contrasts Parker’s durability and patience. Wilder’s arch-nemesis Tyson Fury is a training partner of Parker, adding an intriguing subplot, and Parker will likely seek tips from the Gypsy King on how to overcome his opponent on Saturday.

Wilder’s 14-month hiatus from the ring may introduce some ring rust, and Parker’s toughness will certainly make the early rounds competitive. However, the prevailing expectation is that Wilder will unleash one of his trademark devastating strikes midway through, securing another emphatic stoppage and sending a clear message to Anthony Joshua. Wilder is 4/7 to win by TKO and 2/1 to win by KO.