ANTHONY JOSHUA has pushed aside the disappointment of his NINE-BIGHT contract with Deontay Wilder collapsing by demolishing Otto Wallin in five rounds.
AJ, 35, and the 38-year-old American were set to win the semi-finals in Saudi Arabia – against the Swede and Joseph Parker – to finally begin their rivalry on March 9.
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Anthony Joshua celebrates victory after beating Otto Wallin in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
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Wallin was left with a horrified face and a suspected broken noseCredit: Getty
But just before Joshua had to make his high-pressure ring debut – in the emptiest non-covid arena he’s ever faced – Wilder was battered and appeared to be on the verge of retirement.
It must have been a terrible blow for the London 2012 legend, but he angered and frustrated his two-time amateur opponent to complete a hat-trick.
The Swedish hero had the confidence to walk around the desert arena to Abba’s anthem ‘Winner Takes It All’.
The loser had already gone down in the previous fight, with Alabama’s biggest hitter sabotaging himself with a stinking performance from Parker.
Even with Wilder’s fight in the ashes, AJ didn’t show up waving the white flag, he wore it encrusted with diamonds from head to toe.
Joshua said, “I didn’t watch it. I was focused on me. I was sitting there focused on me. I heard Deontay lost, but what, he’s going to come back.
“I had to focus. After everything Deontay said about me, I could tear him up right now, but I’m going to the next level.
“He can come back and fight another day – I’m sure everyone still wants to see that fight.”
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AJ’s start was as bright as his equipment, he extended his left paw to block and nullify Wallin’s southpaw.
And he drove a handful of vicious right hands towards the underdog’s beefier torso.
In one instance, when he knew he had gotten too greedy with his attack, he nodded in mature acceptance.
Wallin’s nose was broken at the beginning of three years with two strong doses of southern kryptonite.
A trio of straight hard right backhands pierced Wallin’s guard and broke his nose, no doubt making it difficult for him to breathe, with so much of the fight still ahead of him.
Josh got a useful warning in the third when he targeted Wallin’s body too blatantly and got clipped around the ear while crouching.
It was one of the rare moments of success for the left-hander, whose nose was running and his gut was sticking together regularly.
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Joshua stopped Wallin in five rounds…something Tyson Fury failed to do Credit: Getty
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Joshua targeted the body throughout and simply outclassed his opponentCredit: Getty
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AJ also landed a few more good right hands in the fourth, a younger, meaner version may have withstood the onslaught, but he was happy to impress the judges and wear down Wallin’s resolve.
Wallin was also rocked for a one-two early in the fifth, this 18sy version of AJ was powerful and accurate without taking any chances.
And a brilliant left hook nearly sent Wall’s spark out, legs as sturdy as an Ikea table – supported by ropes – keeping him upright.
But the right side of his face was clearly obliterated and a purple stain.
When the referee came over to check the almost instantaneous damage that had grown on Wallin’s face, he used to wave his hand right away.
If anyone was genuinely concerned about the 34-year-old’s mindset and focus before Deontay Wilder ruined their mega-money plans, they’d want returning psychiatrist Dr. Frazer Crane rushing to Riyadh to check on the London 2012 legend.
If Joshua had the Bronze Bomber’s 12-round dominance on his locker room TV, he would have put on a 36-minute horror show that slowly sapped his inspiration and brutalized his projected 2024 earnings.
Long before Wilder fumbled with the bag in the most pathetic way, AJ knew he was in for a testing night, with 13 years to prepare for the Swedish southpaw and former prison warden.
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Joshua looked sharp as fans claimed the two-time heavyweight king was ‘back’ Credit: Getty
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Wallin couldn’t handle Joahu’s strength and intensity Credit: Getty
In 2010 – just months after being released from remand in Reading – he won the prestigious Haringey Box Cup by defeating left-handed darts Mecca Ally Pally.
And six months later, when they met on Wallin’s home soil, he did twice as much as his fellow rookie.
And in 2015 – when Joshua needed to spar with the southpaw ahead of his first world title shot against southpaw Charle Martin – the pair sparred in Sheffield to send Joshua’s career skyrocketing.
Wallin felt that his work with mentally unstable prisoners in his previous career – and his decade of working with his own sports psychologist – gave him a mental edge over the Englishman.
Changing four trainers in his last five fights and drastically changing his boxing style from a ruthless knockout to a cautious scorer is also seen as a sign that AJ’s once-shining star is on the wane.
The momentum was definitely with the underdog, after a fight with Tyson Fury in 2019 that any decent doctor and referee would have stopped in his favor, after giving Gypsy King 47 stitches to his eye.
And in September, he went to the lion’s den of Turkey to face Armenian Murat Gassiev and officially upset the odds with the judges who owed him more than a split decision.
But it was no match for the latest version of AJ and new coach Ben Davison who was celebrating a bittersweet victory.
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Joshua got his hand in Saudi ArabiaCredit: Getty
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And climbed to the top of the ropes to celebrate Credit: Getty
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Attention will now turn to what’s next for AJCredit: Getty
Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: HIS Education