Anthony Joshua stuns Otto Wallin while Deontay Wilder fumbles to Joseph Parker (1 Viewer)

[barakthegreat]

Anthony Joshua secured a clinical victory over Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia, displaying one of his best performances in years under the guidance of his new trainer, Ben Davison. The fight was expected to set up a showdown with Deontay Wilder in March, but Wilder's defeat by Joseph Parker changed the course of plans.

In the Middle East double-header, Joshua dominated Wallin, forcing him to be pulled out on his stool at the end of the fifth round. Meanwhile, in the preceding fight, Wilder was thoroughly outclassed by Parker, barely winning a round and struggling against a disciplined opponent.

The fight between Joshua and Wallin saw both fighters enter the ring with a proactive approach. Wallin posed an occasional threat on the counter, but Joshua controlled the pace from the start, using his jab effectively to set up powerful combinations. Although it took some time for the finish, a bloodied Wallin was clearly done after a sharp combination, and his corner saved him from an inevitable stoppage in the following session.

Looking ahead, Joshua is likely to target a shot at the soon-to-be-vacant IBF heavyweight title against Filip Hrgovic. On the other hand, Wilder's future in the sport is uncertain after struggling to land a significant blow on Parker.

Despite Parker's dominance in the earlier fight, the expectation was that Wilder would land his trademark one-punch knockout. However, Parker executed a perfect gameplan, leaving Wilder perplexed. In the eighth round, Parker came close to a stoppage with a powerful shot, putting Wilder in survival mode on the ropes. The performance played a crucial role in discouraging Wilder in the closing stages.

While one scorecard (118-111) didn't fully reflect Parker's exceptional performance, the other two (118-110 and 120-108) confirmed a famous win for the New Zealander. Wilder now faces uncertainties about his future in the sport, while Joshua looks forward to pursuing the IBF heavyweight title.