Wallin Confident Against Joshua

Heavyweight contender Otto Wallin is confident that he holds the key to an upset victory over Anthony Joshua in their upcoming bout on December 23 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Wallin, based in New York but originally from Sweden, believes the circumstances are in his favor, particularly Joshua taking the fight on short notice and the added challenge of facing a southpaw.

Wallin gained recognition for giving Tyson Fury a tough time in their 2019 bout, even though Fury ultimately won by unanimous decision. Despite his career hitting a bit of a plateau since then, with six consecutive wins over lesser-known opponents, Wallin is determined to capitalize on the opportunity against Joshua.

Expressing his confidence, Wallin highlighted Joshua’s decision to work with a new trainer, Ben Davison, for this fight as a potential vulnerability. He suggested that the short notice and the adjustment to a southpaw opponent could be detrimental to Joshua’s preparation.

“I just feel like it’s short notice [for Joshua]. He’s working with a new trainer already. I don’t think he’s in a good place. Coming in on pretty short notice against a southpaw, again. It’s not a good idea, and I’m gonna show him,” Wallin stated in an interview with Boxing Social.

Wallin’s optimism extends to his belief in securing victory over Joshua. “Definitely [I’m confident of beating Joshua], otherwise I wouldn’t take this fight. I’ve been waiting for this for so long. I’m not going to let it pass by without a victory. I had a good fight with Fury, but I lost that fight and I’m not gonna lose again,” he added.

Expressing a sense of readiness for the fight, Wallin believes this is his moment to shine and gain the respect he deserves in the heavyweight division. While acknowledging Joshua’s past achievements, Wallin hinted that the former unified heavyweight titlist might be on the decline, stating, “I think he’s on his way out. I think that he’s been a very good fighter, he deserves respect, but I just think his time is coming to an end and mine is just starting.”