Author: Sean Close
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will not be facing each other in Saudi Arabia this weekend, but they will still be featured on a highly anticipated pay-per-view card. Joshua is set to fight Otto Wallin on Saturday, the same opponent who gave a tough challenge to the towering British fighter Tyson Fury a few years back. On the other hand, Wilder is scheduled to face former heavyweight titlist Joseph Parker. Despite Wilder’s year-long hiatus from the ring, there are lingering doubts about Joshua’s mental state heading into the upcoming fight weekend. Joshua has suffered two losses in his last three fights against Oleksandr Usyk and has shown signs of struggling with the aftermath of his defeats.
These developments have raised questions about how Joshua will fare against Wallin, who, despite not holding a world title, had put up a valiant fight against Fury. There is a sense that Wilder is more likely to emerge victorious against Parker than Joshua is against Wallin. Wilder did not mince words when discussing Joshua’s recent performance. “AJ seems to have lost the respect he once had,” remarked the outspoken American online. According to the Daily Mail, Wilder stated, “Now, even though he’s had some losses, everyone sees him as a winner and he’s not afraid to give him a slap in the face. It’s great for him to go from a widely respected position to this. It’s going to be tough. You feel it when you’re around him.” While Wilder was not complimentary about Joshua, he expressed his desire for Wilder to secure a victory on Saturday for various reasons.
Rumors have suggested that Wilder and Joshua could potentially face off in March if both emerge victorious in Saudi Arabia. “Right now, I don’t think there’s anything stopping me from fighting AJ,” said Wilder. He further added, “The only thing that could derail the story is if one of them loses on December 23rd… But all the previous issues, including disagreements with his manager and promoter, are no longer an issue. If Joshua gets the better of Wallin and Wilder prevails over Parker, prospects could look brighter. While a world title may not be at stake, there is no denying that Joshua vs. Wilder would be a highly anticipated event. Fans have been eagerly awaiting such a showdown since both fighters held world titles.”
