Anthony Joshua has said there will be “no future” for him in boxing if he loses his fight against Otto Wallin this weekend.
The two-time world champion has not been at the summit of the sport in over two years – and it will be a battle to ever reach it again – but beating Wallin is an imperative step on the journey.
Here’s when the fight takes place, how to watch, and everything else you need to know.
When is Joshua vs Wallin?
Joshua vs Wallin takes place on Saturday 23 December at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
The main undercard fights are set to begin at 7pm GMT, meaning the main event should be at around 11.45pm, but this all depends on how long the undercard fights last.
The other fights on the card are:
- 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 can I watch?
Joshua vs Wallin is being shown live on TNT Sports Box Office and DAZN, which is now available on Sky channel 429 in the UK.
It will cost £19.99 on either platform.
TNT subscribers can also stream the fight on Discovery+, while DAZN subscribers can use its app or website.
What should we expect?
Joshua has looked focused in the build-up to the fight and explained he only has one thing on his mind.
“I’m looking to do a good job and what more can I say, I will do a good job,” he said.
“I’m here to fight, I’m not here to party, I want to perform well and put that pressure on myself because I want to win, I have that urge to win and want to hurt my opponent as well.”
Swedish fighter Wallin, 33, has just one career defeat to his name, narrowly losing to Tyson Fury in 2019 – but has won all six of his fights since.
Wallin vows to win the fight on Saturday and does not think it will be an upset if he does so.
He said: “Its a big fight and big opportunity I’ve worked hard to be here and now it’s time to enjoy the moment, win the fight and move on.
“I’m going to win the fight and it shouldn’t be an upset, it’s natural and it’s my time, I’m happy to be here. I’m just trying to be myself, people say I talk a lot but I just answer them with what I feel, and I’m not trying to make anything up its the truth if people don’t like it fine, but it’s true.”
Joshua, who lost his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in 2021, is fighting on the same bill as ex-WBC title holder Deontay Wilder.
The pair could fight if both get past their opponents in Riyadh, with Wilder facing Joseph Parker.
Asked if it was hard to focus on Wallin with a potential showdown against Wilder in the works, Joshua told reporters he was not thinking beyond Saturday’s bout.
“My heart, my soul, every cell in my body is fully focused towards Otto Wallin and doing what I know I can do,” the 34-year-old said.
“I know where I’m going in my life. But I’ve also got to say, this is the checkpoint and if I don’t get past this, there is no future, so I’m fully locked into Otto Wallin and doing the job.”