Heavyweight boxing is BACK, and it is back in a big way ahead of that massive ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
A string of top-15 heavies will lock horns on the DAZN/TNT Sports Box Office PPV, with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder topping the bill against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively. After that we get Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed title on February 17, and we hope Joshua vs Wilder on March 9.
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These are heady days, but promoter Eddie Hearn has no doubt about the main who really started to put heavyweight boxing back on the map after a decade of stagnation following the retirement of Lennox Lewis.
AJ’s emergence onto the scene after his Olympic triumph in London excited fans and filled stadiums, with his knockout power making for electrifying occasions. Hearn paid tribute to that pulling power ahead of his man’s crucial clash with Wallin.
Eddie Hearn on Joshua
“For ‘AJ’ the run has been incredible. The journey has been incredible,” said Hearn.
“From winning Olympic Gold, from winning the World Heavyweight Championship in his 16th fight. The run that he’s been on. Dominic Breazeale, Eric Molina, Wladimir Klitchscko, Carlos Takam, unifying against Joseph Parker in a great fight as well, Alexander Povetkin, Andy Ruiz, Andy Ruiz, Kubrat Pulev, Oleksandr Usyk, Oleksandr Usyk, Robert Helenius and now Otto Wallin.
“This is his third fight 2023. It’s the first time he’s been able to be active without the politics of a belt and it’s a real test. Otto Wallin, many people thought he was unlucky not to force the stoppage against Tyson Fury. He’s coming off a great win against Murat Gassiev. I love his confidence. He truly believes he will win the fight on Saturday. We’ve got other plans.”
Joshua of course will have a trainer heading up his corner on Saturday – none other than Ben Davison, the man who prepared Fury for his first fight vs Wilder back in 2018. Hearn believes he will provide fresh ideas and get AJ in the perfect mood to nullify the threat from Wallin.
“I see a very motivated Anthony Joshua. I see a guy that that in my opinion, has really been responsible for the growth of the Heavyweight division, going back to filling stadiums coming off the World Championship victory after winning Olympic Gold. A guy that has plenty more left to give to the Heavyweight division, wants to become a three-time Heavyweight Champion, but has a real tough task ahead of him on Saturday night. A great link-up with Ben Davison, I think you’re going to see a stunning performance from Anthony on Saturday.”
