Anthony Joshua ended 2023 with an impressive victory against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia – after heavyweight rival Deontay Wilder had suffered a shock defeat.
American Wilder was hurt in the eighth round as New Zealander Parker was awarded a unanimous decision.
Joshua left Wallin bloodied and battered, forcing his corner to end the fight after the fifth round.
Joshua’s showdown with Wallin came on the same card as Wilder vs Joseph Parker, with the expectation being that AJ and ‘The Bronze Bomber’ would fight next.
However, Parker outboxed Wilder and beat him by unanimous decision.
Joshua’s bout followed but another surprise defeat never looked likely, as he looked focused from the start and produced an impressive performance to completely shut down Wallin.
Joshua, with Tyson Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison in his corner, came out positively from the opening bell, putting immediate pressure on Wallin and letting his right hand go.
Through a few rounds, Joshua had bloodied the nose of Wallin, but he was not putting any combinations together, instead opting to pot-shot his opponent.
But, in round five this all changed, as Joshua landed a thunderous right-hand left hook combination that sent his opponent stumbling back against the ropes.
AJ followed up with a brutal barrage of punches, but the Swede survived and made it back to his corner at the end of the round.
But this is as far as the fight would go.
