Anthony Joshua has to end 2023 by making a major statement as he headlines a huge night of heavyweight boxing against Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia tonight.
It has been a year of recovery for the former heavyweight champion, having twice been beaten by Oleksandr Usyk, with routine victories over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, the latter a first stoppage win in almost three years.
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Joshua now tops a stacked bill in Riyadh, with long-time rival Deontay Wilder the co-main event in an intriguing fight with Joseph Parker. Should Joshua and Wilder both be successful, it is expected they will finally meet in the ring next year.
There is also the prospect of becoming a three-time world champion to motivate Joshua heading into 2024, with the heavyweight belts likely to be fragmented after Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk's undisputed showdown in February.
The IBF belt is expected to become vacant should there be a rematch between those two, and victory over Wallin would leave Joshua in a strong position to fight Filip Hrgovic, also in action tonight, for the title should the Wilder bout not materialise.
Wallin will be keen to derail all of these plans though, boosting his own world title ambitions in the process. The Swedish heavyweight made a name for himself in 2019 when he went the distance with Tyson Fury and left his opponent bloodied and cut.
That remains the 33-year-old's only professional defeat, with Wallin moving to 28-1 by beating Murat Gassiev in September.
Joshua vs Wallin date, start time, venue and ring walks
Joshua vs Wallin takes place tonight, Saturday, December 23, 2023, at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The main undercard fights are due to begin at 7pm GMT, with the event starting from 4pm GMT. The main event should be at around 10:30pm GMT, which is 1:30am local time. As ever, those times are subject to change.
Joshua vs Wallin fight card/undercard in full
It is a huge night of boxing in Riyadh.
Wilder fights Parker in a bout between two former world champions, with the winner of that leaving themselves in pole position to challenge at the top of the division next year.
Daniel Dubois returns to the ring for the first time since he was beaten by OIeksandr Usyk in August as he takes on Jarrell Miller, who failed drugs tests ahead of his planned bout with Joshua in 2019.
Hrgovic, currently mandatory for the IBF title, is also in action earlier in the night, while Dmitry Bivol defends his WBA light-heavyweight belt against British fighter Lyndon Arthur.
Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur
Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller
Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro
Filip Hrgovic vs Mark de Mori
Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel
Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa
How to watch Joshua vs Wallin
TV channel: Joshua vs Wallin is being broadcast live on DAZN pay-per-view and via TNT Sports Box Office.
UK viewers can purchase the PPV fight and join the DAZN instalment plan for a first month's subscription for £20, or pay £24.99 for the fight and a monthly flex subscription.
Live stream: The action can also be viewed after purchase live online via the DAZN app and website or Discovery+ app and website.
Live blog: You can also follow the entire card on Saturday night via Standard Sport’s live blog.
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Joshua vs Wallin fight prediction
As was the case with his two fights earlier this year, Joshua knows defeat would effectively end any hopes he has of reaching the summit of the heavyweight division again.
With his career on the line, Joshua cannot afford to look past Wallin, but past experience should ensure that does not happen. The British fighter spent much of the build-up to his first fight with Andy Ruiz in 2019 being asked about Wilder, and duly went on to lose to the Mexican.
A bout with Wilder is once again on the horizon, this time closer than ever before, but Joshua's full focus must be on Saturday night.
Even with the stakes so high, the hope is that Joshua can produce a more decisive, aggressive performance against Wallin. He was largely timid against Franklin and there was more of that apprehension against Helenius before an explosive finish eventually came.
Joshua has been working with trainer Ben Davison ahead of this fight and while that may prove to be a positive, the pair have only had matter of weeks together and it remains to be seen how much can be changed in such a short period of time.
Wallin is a durable fighter, as Fury found out, and can be expected to grow in confidence should he sense any hesitation from the other side of the ring.
He is unlikely to have the power to really trouble Joshua though, who can set the stage for a string of big fights next year even if he does not become the first man to stop Wallin.
Joshua to win, via unanimous decision
Joshua vs Wallin weigh-in results
Joshua tipped the scales on Friday at 251lbs, a pound heavier than he was against Helenius in his last fight. Wallin, meanwhile, weighed in at a much lighter 238.6lbs.
Joshua vs Wallin betting odds
Joshua to win: 1/4
Wallin to win: 3/1
Draw: 16/1
Joshua to win by decision/technical decision: 13/10
Joshua to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 13/8
Wallin to win by decision/technical decision: 5/1
Wallin to win by KO, TKO or DQ: 9/1
