Yesterday night, Saturday, December 23rd, 2023, was agog for boxing lovers as world boxing giants entered the ring in what many described as a historic moment in the world of boxing.
Many people might have been expecting Anthony Joshua and Deontay but the fight was separated with wonderful outcomes.
It was Anthony Joshua versus Otoo Walking while Wilder was involved in a separate fight through the same night.
BBC gave an emotional Review of how Anthony Joshua pounded out his rival, Otto Wallin in what many people described as a wonderful fight. BBC reports:
Anthony Joshua put in a terrific performance to beat Otto Wallin inside the distance but Deontay Wilder's shock points loss to Joseph Parker on the same bill scuppered plans for the long-awaited heavyweight showdown.
Briton Joshua boxed magnificently in Saudi Arabia, dominating Wallin before the Swede's corner pulled him out of the fight at the end of the fifth.
The Saudis, promoters, and boxing followers had jumped the gun. There was still an air of disbelief as Sweden's Wallin - in what is probably boxing first - walked to the ring to ABBA's 'The Winner Takes it All'.
UFC star Conor McGregor and footballer Cristiano Ronaldo watched on as Joshua made his ring walk.
On a dramatic night for heavyweight boxing, there was a noticeably low-key atmosphere in the Kingdom Arena, with plenty of empty seats in the 6,000-capacity venue.
Joshua, unlike Wilder, began strongly. The 34-year-old delivered a gut-wrenching body shot in the first and made southpaw Wallin's legs buckle in the second with straight rights down the barrel.
The 2012 Olympic gold medallist has transitioned from an explosive power-punching finisher to a smarter, less reckless, boxer.
Joshua was enjoying his work in a measured, composed, and dominant performance. He connected with a brilliant left hook in the fifth. It was one clean punch too many, with Wallin's team deciding it was best the 33-year-old stayed put on his stool.
The Watford fighter called the win "just another fight" and although he did not rule out a bout with Wilder in the future, he now seems ready to set his sights on challenging for a world title.
With Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury on 17 February in Saudi Arabia, a potential rematch between that pair could see the IBF title become vacant. A belt Joshua and Hrgovic could contest.
"We've got bigger ambitions," Joshua said of his three wins this year. "As I said to Louis Theroux, we don't celebrate when we win these fights, we celebrate when we win titles.
Read also Outright Review of How Wilder's Crown was Removed by Parker's Ruthlessness
Category: World-News
Tag: Emotional Review of How Anthony Joshua Beat Joseph Parker
Written by Author (author)
Published 12/24/2023 12:02:59 PM