Boxing Superstars Joshua and Wilder to Face Separate Opponents in Saudi Arabia Showdown
On December 23rd, the former heavyweight world champions Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder will compete in separate bouts on the same night in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua, a two-time unified world heavyweight champion, will take on the 32-year-old Swedish boxer Otto Wallin, who holds a 26-1 professional record and previously lost to Tyson Fury. Meanwhile, former WBC champion Wilder will square off against Joseph Parker, who previously held the WBO belt but lost it to Joshua in 2018.
If both Joshua and Wilder emerge victorious from their respective fights, a highly anticipated matchup between the two boxing superstars could potentially take place in 2024. Currently, Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk hold the heavyweight world titles and are expected to face off in a unification bout in the same year.
Undercard Fights
Elsewhere on the card, WBA light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol will defend his title against Lyndon Arthur, a 32-year-old boxer from Manchester with a 23-1 record. Additionally, British heavyweight Daniel Dubois will take on American Jarrell Miller, who was originally slated to face Joshua in 2019 but failed a drug test.
The December 23rd event is part of the annual “Riyadh Season” entertainment festival held in the Saudi capital, which has drawn controversy due to the country’s human rights record. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has stated that he “does not care” about such accusations, as the country continues to increase its involvement in the world of sports.
🔗 Source
