The Day of Reckoning: Joshua and Wilder face tough tests in Saudi Arabia
The boxing world is buzzing with anticipation as two of the biggest names in the heavyweight division, Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, are set to fight in separate bouts on a star-studded show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday, December 23. The event, dubbed the Day of Reckoning, will feature a stacked undercard of top fighters, including Daniel Dubois, Dmitry Bivol, and Filip Hrgovic.
Anthony Joshua, the former two-time world champion, will headline the night against Otto Wallin, the Swedish southpaw who gave Tyson Fury a tough challenge in 2019. Joshua, who weighed in at 17st 13lbs, nearly 13lbs heavier than his opponent, is looking to bounce back from his two losses to Oleksandr Usyk and reclaim his place at the top of the division. He said: “I’m fully locked into Otto Wallin and doing the job. I know where I’m going in my life. But I’ve also got to say, this is the checkpoint and if I don’t get past this, there is no future.
Deontay Wilder, the former WBC champion, will face former WBO champion Joseph Parker in the co-main event. Wilder, who weighed in at a lean 15st 3lbs compared to Parker’s 17st 7lbs, is fighting for the first time in 14 months, after his trilogy with Fury was cancelled due to Covid-19. Wilder, who has 42 knockouts in 43 wins, is confident of his power and said: “Parker has never felt the power that I possess. He’s been in there with some good fighters, but none of them can hit like me. I’m going to show him why they call me the Bronze Bomber.
The Day of Reckoning is not only a historic night for boxing, but also a potential precursor to a mega-fight between Joshua and Wilder, who have been on a collision course for years. Both fighters have expressed their desire to face each other, but first they must overcome their respective opponents in Riyadh. The stakes are high, the pressure is on, and the fans are ready for a spectacular show
