Otto Wallin has explained why Anthony Joshua is making a mistake by fighting him in the hopes of setting up a Deontay Wilder clash.

Former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua fights Wallin on December 23 at the ‘Day of Reckoning’ event in Saudi Arabia with Wilder also in action against Joseph Parker. ‘AJ’ is looking to top off a successful year after beating Jermaine Franklin in April and knocking out Robert Helenius in August.

Wallin has only been beaten by Joshua’s longtime rival Tyson Fury in his professional career and he was even on the brink of beating Fury after he opened up a massive cut on the Brit’s eyebrow. Joshua is favoured by bookies to beat Wallin but the Swede gave three reasons as to he thinks why ‘AJ’ will come up short.

“He’s got a new trainer, short notice, southpaw again, so I didn’t really understand it. I didn’t think they would pick me, I was surprised and I didn’t think it was the best move but I get the chance to beat him and really cement my name up there with the best heavyweights in the world,” Wallin told Boxing Social.

Joshua is working with Fury’s old trainer Ben Davison for his fight against Wallin having previously been coached by Derrick James for his past two fights. Davison serves as the fourth trainer Joshua has gone through in a matter of years as he worked with Robert McCracken and Robert Garcia but also split from both of the coaches.

Wallin felt ‘AJ’ wasn’t confident in himself when they faced off for the first time at the launch press conference. “I felt he was stiff, tense and nervous. He seemed very unsure of himself. I think he is a guy that takes himself pretty seriously. He told me not to shake my hand after if I’m talking now so I said I’m not here to make friends, I’m going to do whatever it takes to win this fight,” he added.

“He’s already been beaten three times. There’s no secret he can get beat. I think that now more than before his mind is in a bad spot. He has too much pressure on his shoulders and he’s feeling it. That’s hard for him. He’s not the champion and that brings him down. It shows with all his different trainers.”

Otto Wallin says he has plenty of reasons to be confident ahead of his fight with Anthony Joshua.

Wallin is a Swedish southpaw who has steadily rose up the ranks

. His journey started properly when he pushed Tyson Fury hard over 12 rounds in 2019. He also managed to inflict a savage cut above the current WBC Champion’s eye that required 47 stitches.

After increasing his profile with that performance, ‘All In’ has gone on to record solid wins over former cruiserweight king Murat Gassiev and Joshua victim Dominic Breazeale amongst others.

Speaking to Boxing Social, he claimed he was surprised when Joshua picked him as an opponent for December 23.

Wallin then revealed what he gleaned from the first press conference when he came head-to-head with Joshua.

He was then asked if he had seen things in Joshua’s game plan that he could exploit.

The fight takes place in Saudi Arabia on December 23 as part of a huge card of heavyweight boxing. Should Wallin win, there’s a rematch clause on ‘AJ’s side.

Two-time world featherweight champion Leigh Wood has said that Anthony Joshua will be clear, decisive and knock Otto Wallin out in their December 23 fight in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua has been working with trainer Ben Davison, who also happens to train Wood, ahead of the bout in Riyadh with Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker happening on the same card.

Under Davison, Wood has been hugely successful, going from losing in a British title fight earlier in his career, to then becoming WBA featherweight world champion and pulling off some incredible victories, and Joshua will be hoping for similar success.

Wood believes Joshua is learning a lot from Davison and has predicted the British-Nigerian will knock out Wallin in their next fight.

“The approach he’s got with Ben, he’s like a sponge – he’s absorbing all the information,” Wood told Boxing News.

“A lot of people look at it and think, ‘He’s training with Ben, is he mad?’ but like I’ve said, Ben (is) way ahead. I’ve said this many times, and people can quote me, because I know in ten years’ time they’ll be like, ‘Leigh Wood told us.’

“I didn’t have to tell you. Look at my fights I’ve had; I’ve been the underdog time and time again, (but) I’m getting these results. Is it because I’m superhuman, or is it because I’ve got a mint team? Do the maths.

“I can see a lot of similarities between Joshua and myself in the way he’s learning. He’s always asking questions and wants to know how it works. Sometimes you’re trying to learn something and it doesn’t click straight away, then it’s a good feeling when you get it.”

Wood further spoke on the shift in Joshua’s approach, highlighting the newfound confidence and clarity.

“He’s on the right path, and I can’t wait for his fight in December. I think you will see AJ be more clear and decisive with what he’s doing in there because I feel like he’ll know what he needs to do.

“Whereas in previous fights, he’s (seemed) a bit apprehensive. (It’s like he’s) thinking, ‘It doesn’t feel right,’ or half-guessing and not confident in what he’s doing but just doing it anyway.

“I know for this fight he will be clear and decisive, knowing what he needs to do and going out and doing it. A lot of people will say, ‘AJ’s looking more like his old self,’ and that will be because of these things he’s doing (with Davison). Without a shadow of a doubt, it’s an AJ knockout (against Wallin).”

Otto Wallin has been speaking ahead of his huge clash with British heavyweight Anthony Joshua.

This fight will be Joshua’s third of the year – a feat he hasn’t managed since 2016. He is still working his way back to the top after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and 2022 that left him without any of his three world titles.

In 2023 he has beaten Jermaine Franklin over 12 rounds on points and Robert Helenius by knockout.

Wallin is a Swedish southpaw most well-known for pushing Fury hard over 12 rounds back in 2019, including inflicting a huge cut above his eye. He has since secured solid wins over Murat Gassiev and Dominic Breazeale.

The pair will come head to head on December 23 on a huge card in Saudi Arabia and, in the lead-up to that, Wallin spoke to VegasInsider about the fight’s rematch clause.

He did admit it was a calculated risk, however.

Joshua is currently settling in with a new coach for this fight – Ben Davison will be his fourth trainer in five fights, which Wallin has said is a big mistake. It’s understood that ‘AJ’ intends to return to Derrick James thereafter.

Anthony Joshua will look to set up a highly-anticipated clash against Deontay Wilder when he fights Otto Wallin on December 23.

Former two-time heavyweight world champion Joshua is back in the ring for the third time this year after beating Jermaine Franklin in April and Robert Helenius in August. ‘AJ’ looked set to return in the first quarter of 2024 but a short-notice fight with Wallin was agreed upon for a blockbuster card in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

The event will also feature the return of Wilder, who hasn’t fought since knocking out Helenius in a round last October. ‘The Bronze Bomber’ will need to get past Joseph Parker to keep up his side of the deal for a fight with Joshua. the likes of Daniel Dubois and Dmitry Bivol are also in action, so here’s all you need to know about the big event…

When is Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin and what time will it start in UK?

Joshua and Wallin will fight on Saturday, December 23. The rivals will not walk to the ring until around 11pm UK time, which is 1am on Sunday morning in Riyadh. There are seven fights taking place on the star-stacked undercard, which is set to get underway at 7pm. Fight times are subject to change depending on the results of the undercard bouts.

How to watch Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin in UK on TV channel and live stream

Joshua vs Wallin is being shown exclusively on DAZN pay-per-view and the event will cost fans in the UK £19.99. DAZN can be watched on multiple devices such as laptop, smart TV and the mobile app. Fans can start their subscription to DAZN for £9.99 a month, with a minimum term of 12-months, by clicking here.

Who is fighting on the undercard?

Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker

Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller

Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur – for WBA lightweight title

Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro – for IBF cruiserweight title

Filip Hrgovic vs Mark de Mori

Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel

Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa

Quotes corner

Joshua: “People taken about I’ve peaked have never even seen what a peak looks like in their careers. I look forward to delivering my message to Wallin on December 23. I know where I want to go and I know what I want to do. I believe I’m going to be three-time heavyweight champion of the world.”

Wallin: “My manager and I spoke about this fight and we thought it made sense. We came to a conclusion in about two days, I’m coming into this fight after a great win against Gassiev. I’m in a great position and I’m on top of the world, I’ve been waiting for this fight for a long time.”

There will be another new face in Anthony Joshua’s corner when he takes on Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia on 23 December.

After years standing alongside Rob McCracken, the two-time heavyweight champion has made changes to his team since losing his titles to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021. Robert Garcia was brought into the camp for the rematch but after Joshua came up short again against the undefeated Ukrainian, that partnership came to an end.

This year, Joshua linked up with Derrick James, the experienced American who also counts Errol Spence Jr, Jermell Charlo and Ryan Garcia among his stable of fighters.

Relocating his fight camps to Texas where James is based, Joshua got back to winning ways under his guidance, securing a points win over Jermaine Franklin in April before his vicious knockout victory over Robert Helenius in August.

With his pre-Christmas showdown with Wallin announced just six weeks before fight night, Joshua has remained in the UK to work in camp with Ben Davison, who he has been working with over the last few months, according to his promoter Eddie Hearn. While Joshua recently opted not to discuss the situation, Davison will reportedly be in his corner on the night.

Davison counts Tyson Fury, Billy Joe Saunders and Josh Taylor as the world champions he has worked with in the past with Leigh Wood – who vacated his featherweight title to move up in weight last month – part of his current stable.

He also has intimate knowledge of Joshua’s opponent Wallin, having been in Fury’s corner the night he fought the Swede four years ago in Las Vegas.

It has been reported James remains Joshua’s head trainer, with the arrangement with Davison a one-time deal brought on by logistical issues around the fight.

Viddal Riley, the reigning English cruiserweight champion, has first-hand knowledge of what goes on behind the scenes to prepare a fighter having trained YouTube stars KSI and AnEsonGib before shifting focus back to his own burgeoning career.

The Hackney fighter developed close connections with the men he put through their paces, believing Joshua and Davison can develop a similar understanding providing the latter can ‘get through’ to the former heavyweight champion.

‘It is an experiment,’ Riley told Metro.co.uk. ‘There is a lot on the line so it gets a lot of attention so people like to throw in their non expert views which they are entitled to do. Buts it is an experiment.

‘He could be a great coach for someone else and not be a good coach for Anthony Joshua. But then he could be great for AJ. Ben is a proven coach. At the end of the day, it is down to their personal communication and methods of teaching.

‘We can’t say Ben is a bad trainer or he is not qualified for the job because he is has shown he is, he has trained multiple world champions over multiple divisions. But can he get through to AJ? Only they and the people who are in the gym and around them will know that. Hopefully they can.’

Viddal believes the fighter-trainer dynamic is the same for any athlete in sport looking of guidance and instruction. It applies no more so than in football where he likens the situation to that of former Chelsea, Tottenham and Manchester United boss Jose Mourinho, one of the game’s most celebrated coaches who hasn’t always found perfect harmony with his players.

‘That’s what every athlete is seeking, a coach who can get through to them,’ he continued. ‘A coach who can make the difference. It is not based on accolades. Jose Mourinho is a very accomplished manager but with certain teams, he can’t make it happen.

‘It doesn’t mean he is a bad manager, it just means he couldn’t connect with that group of players. It is all about communication and connection. So if he [Davison] has that relationship and AJ can absorb what Ben is saying like a sponge and they get on well, then I think we see a great outcome in December.

‘Finding the right coach can be as simple as finding the right pair of trainers. It is just the public eye is on it. It is hard to keep things under wraps because everything is just gossip. It isn’t fair, but it is part of the process and part of being a world class athlete. People care and that is the reason [these fighters] are in this position.’