Tag: Otto Wallin

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzles, Deontay Wilder fizzles in Saudi Arabia

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzled and Deontay Wilder fizzled on a big night of boxing Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

No on is surprised that Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin on the massive card Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion has far superior tools to that of his Swedish opponent, which resulted in a fifth-round knockout. It was the manner in which Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) carried himself that was an eye opener. He fought with the confidence and purpose of an elite fighter who believes in himself and has found peace, which doesn’t seem to have been the case since the days before he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Of course, we shouldn’t get carried away. Again, Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) was a limited threat. And Joshua wasn’t forced to overcome any sort of adversity, which would be the ultimate test of his current mettle. Still, the Joshua we saw on Saturday – under new trainer Ben Davison – looked a lot like the Olympic gold medalist who became the top big man in the mid-2010s. We can’t dismiss his loss to Ruiz and back-to-back setbacks against the gifted Oleksandr Usyk, which will always be a part of Joshua’s story. We can say that he appears to be writing a new chapter, one in which he just might be a dominating heavyweight once again.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Joseph Parker

Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) had the skill and experience to execute an excellent game plan perfectly. The former heavyweight titleholder didn’t overwhelm Deontay Wilder in spite of the one-sided scores in his favor in the co-feature in Riyadh. He landed a total of 89 punches, seven per round, according to CompuBox. That isn’t exactly a beat down. No, the beauty of his performance was his ability to avoid Wilder’s dangerous right hand and do enough offensively to win round after round, just as trainer Andy Lee drew it up. Parker simply stayed out of Wilder’s range or crowded him inside, which made it difficult for Wilder to get in position to land what had become his inevitable knockout blow. Parker took only 39 shots. Meanwhile, he found opportune, relatively safe moments to land his own punches. His overhand right was the best punch in the fight. Thus, Parker was able to tame one of the most feared fighters of the era and reassert himself as a legitimate championship contender. The 31-year-old Kiwi couldn’t have had a much better night.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Deontay Wilder

Have we seen the last of Deontay Wilder? Richard Pelham / Getty Images

Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) is anything but a loser despite what you might hear or read on social media. He did exactly what we all strive to do in our careers: He made the most of his ability. He came late to boxing, meaning he has never had the fundamental foundation of most of his opponents. Still, he won a bronze medal in the Olympics, had a five-year reign as world champion as a professional, gained a reputation as one of the hardest punchers of all time, put Tyson Fury down four times in three fights, gave Fury absolute hell in their third meeting and will one day be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. And he won’t be defined by his performance against Parker. I always believed that one day Wilder would fail to land his mammoth right hand or another big shot and lose a decision to a good opponent as a result. To his credit, it happened 15 years into his career. He wasn’t fooling people all this time, as some have suggested. We all knew what his limitations were. His ability to overcome them was what made him so impressive. If he’s finished – and perhaps he would be wise to retire at 38 – he should be proud of what he accomplished.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

More thoughts on Joshua and Wilder: Where did Joshua’s inner tranquility come from? I suspect he has clicked with his countryman Davison, for one thing. And I believe he has a different perspective on his career. The worst has already happened. He was knocked out and now has three setbacks, which, as it turned out, didn’t destroy his career. The pressure is off. He can now fight to win instead of fighting not to lose, the latter of which is no way to approach a fight. I don’t know whether he can beat Fury or Usyk, although his second meeting with the Ukrainian was close. I simply believe that self doubt wouldn’t play as big of a role as it has in the past. … Wilder’s critics have suggested that Parker is the best opponent he faced other than Fury, their way of saying he was exposed against a genuine threat. Again, a fighter isn’t exposed if you understand his limitations beforehand. And while Parker might be his second most formidable foe he’s not that much better than Luis Ortiz, who Wilder defeated twice. And let’s not forget: Wilder had fought less than one full round in more than two years going into the fight. I wonder how he would’ve fared if he had been as busy as Parker, who had four fights this year. Last thing on Wilder: Will he be remembered as a great fighter? No. Will he be remembered as one of the most exciting? Absolutely. …

Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) could end up as a big winner as a result of the show in Riyadh. The rising Croatian heavyweight did his job on the card, stopping ridiculously overmatched Mark De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) in the first round. Then Parker did him a favor by upsetting Wilder. That could land Hrgovic a meeting with Joshua, who had been set to fight Wilder if things went well on Saturday. If Hrgovic gets that fight and wins – a big if – he will move to the front of line among those jockeying for a shot at a world title. … Cruiserweight beltholder Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) didn’t give us much of a chance to admire his all-around ability on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card, stopping Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) with a monstrous left hand that left an immobile Zorro with his head resting on the bottom rope in the first round. At least Opetaia made a strong impression. The Aussie’s mission now is to take the next step in his career, which would be a victory over a big-name opponent. But who? Gilberto Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) might be the most intriguing possibility at the moment. The durable Mexican is a former 168-pound titleholder who failed in a bid to take Dmitry Bivol’s 175-pound title and is now campaigning as a 200-pounder. He outpointed Joe Smith Jr. in October. Ramirez is high profile enough to bring attention to the matchup and could give Opetaia problems. …

Also on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card … Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) had no trouble with Lydon Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs), winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title. No surprise there. The winner’s inability to take out his counterpart probably was a disappointment in the Bivol camp but it doesn’t detract much from another dominating performance. His skill level is somewhere above the stratosphere. I hope a meeting with Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) for the undisputed championship comes next, assuming Beterbiev beats Callum Smith on Jan. 13. I think Bivol will win that bout because he’s a better all-around fighter than Beterbiev but it will he’s ultimate test. … Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career, outworking and then stopping 333-pound Jarrell Miller in the 10th and final round of a grueling fight. The winner outlanded his opponent 208-107, according to CompuBox. The victory was a significant step back into title contention after his knockout loss against Usyk, in which some fans believe he quit. Meanwhile, it’s difficult to be sympathetic to Miller, who has failed two drug tests.  …

Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) turned in an impressive upset, stopping hulking Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) in the fourth round of their heavyweight matchup to raise his profile. It was Kabayel’s all-around ability vs. Makhumdov’s brawn and power, which turned out to be a mismatch. … Talented heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) away in the seventh round, just another impressive performance from the Cuban. He’s clearly ready to take on a next-level opponent. … And, finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to 92-year-old Hall of Fame TV analyst and accomplished journalist Larry Merchant, who reportedly was rushed to the hospital and placed in a critical care unit this week. No further details were available. Merchant is the best analyst ever. And those in the business who have had the privilege of spending time with him cherish his friendship.

[lawrence-related id=40341,40332,40324,40283,40314,40289,40286,40296,40280,40277]

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzles, Deontay Wilder fizzles in Saudi Arabia

Weekend Review: Anthony Joshua sizzled and Deontay Wilder fizzled on a big night of boxing Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

BIGGEST WINNER
Anthony Joshua

No on is surprised that Anthony Joshua defeated Otto Wallin on the massive card Saturday night in Saudi Arabia. The former heavyweight champion has far superior tools to that of his Swedish opponent, which resulted in a fifth-round knockout. It was the manner in which Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) carried himself that was an eye opener. He fought with the confidence and purpose of an elite fighter who believes in himself and has found peace, which doesn’t seem to have been the case since the days before he was knocked out by Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019. Of course, we shouldn’t get carried away. Again, Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) was a limited threat. And Joshua wasn’t forced to overcome any sort of adversity, which would be the ultimate test of his current mettle. Still, the Joshua we saw on Saturday – under new trainer Ben Davison – looked a lot like the Olympic gold medalist who became the top big man in the mid-2010s. We can’t dismiss his loss to Ruiz and back-to-back setbacks against the gifted Oleksandr Usyk, which will always be a part of Joshua’s story. We can say that he appears to be writing a new chapter, one in which he just might be a dominating heavyweight once again.

 

BIGGEST WINNER II
Joseph Parker

Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) had the skill and experience to execute an excellent game plan perfectly. The former heavyweight titleholder didn’t overwhelm Deontay Wilder in spite of the one-sided scores in his favor in the co-feature in Riyadh. He landed a total of 89 punches, seven per round, according to CompuBox. That isn’t exactly a beat down. No, the beauty of his performance was his ability to avoid Wilder’s dangerous right hand and do enough offensively to win round after round, just as trainer Andy Lee drew it up. Parker simply stayed out of Wilder’s range or crowded him inside, which made it difficult for Wilder to get in position to land what had become his inevitable knockout blow. Parker took only 39 shots. Meanwhile, he found opportune, relatively safe moments to land his own punches. His overhand right was the best punch in the fight. Thus, Parker was able to tame one of the most feared fighters of the era and reassert himself as a legitimate championship contender. The 31-year-old Kiwi couldn’t have had a much better night.

 

BIGGEST LOSER
Deontay Wilder

Have we seen the last of Deontay Wilder? Richard Pelham / Getty Images

Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) is anything but a loser despite what you might hear or read on social media. He did exactly what we all strive to do in our careers: He made the most of his ability. He came late to boxing, meaning he has never had the fundamental foundation of most of his opponents. Still, he won a bronze medal in the Olympics, had a five-year reign as world champion as a professional, gained a reputation as one of the hardest punchers of all time, put Tyson Fury down four times in three fights, gave Fury absolute hell in their third meeting and will one day be inducted into the International Hall of Fame. And he won’t be defined by his performance against Parker. I always believed that one day Wilder would fail to land his mammoth right hand or another big shot and lose a decision to a good opponent as a result. To his credit, it happened 15 years into his career. He wasn’t fooling people all this time, as some have suggested. We all knew what his limitations were. His ability to overcome them was what made him so impressive. If he’s finished – and perhaps he would be wise to retire at 38 – he should be proud of what he accomplished.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

More thoughts on Joshua and Wilder: Where did Joshua’s inner tranquility come from? I suspect he has clicked with his countryman Davison, for one thing. And I believe he has a different perspective on his career. The worst has already happened. He was knocked out and now has three setbacks, which, as it turned out, didn’t destroy his career. The pressure is off. He can now fight to win instead of fighting not to lose, the latter of which is no way to approach a fight. I don’t know whether he can beat Fury or Usyk, although his second meeting with the Ukrainian was close. I simply believe that self doubt wouldn’t play as big of a role as it has in the past. … Wilder’s critics have suggested that Parker is the best opponent he faced other than Fury, their way of saying he was exposed against a genuine threat. Again, a fighter isn’t exposed if you understand his limitations beforehand. And while Parker might be his second most formidable foe he’s not that much better than Luis Ortiz, who Wilder defeated twice. And let’s not forget: Wilder had fought less than one full round in more than two years going into the fight. I wonder how he would’ve fared if he had been as busy as Parker, who had four fights this year. Last thing on Wilder: Will he be remembered as a great fighter? No. Will he be remembered as one of the most exciting? Absolutely. …

Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) could end up as a big winner as a result of the show in Riyadh. The rising Croatian heavyweight did his job on the card, stopping ridiculously overmatched Mark De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) in the first round. Then Parker did him a favor by upsetting Wilder. That could land Hrgovic a meeting with Joshua, who had been set to fight Wilder if things went well on Saturday. If Hrgovic gets that fight and wins – a big if – he will move to the front of line among those jockeying for a shot at a world title. … Cruiserweight beltholder Jai Opetaia (24-0, 19 KOs) didn’t give us much of a chance to admire his all-around ability on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card, stopping Ellis Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) with a monstrous left hand that left an immobile Zorro with his head resting on the bottom rope in the first round. At least Opetaia made a strong impression. The Aussie’s mission now is to take the next step in his career, which would be a victory over a big-name opponent. But who? Gilberto Ramirez (45-1, 30 KOs) might be the most intriguing possibility at the moment. The durable Mexican is a former 168-pound titleholder who failed in a bid to take Dmitry Bivol’s 175-pound title and is now campaigning as a 200-pounder. He outpointed Joe Smith Jr. in October. Ramirez is high profile enough to bring attention to the matchup and could give Opetaia problems. …

Also on the Joshua-Wallin and Parker-Wilder card … Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) had no trouble with Lydon Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs), winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title. No surprise there. The winner’s inability to take out his counterpart probably was a disappointment in the Bivol camp but it doesn’t detract much from another dominating performance. His skill level is somewhere above the stratosphere. I hope a meeting with Artur Beterbiev (19-0, 19 KOs) for the undisputed championship comes next, assuming Beterbiev beats Callum Smith on Jan. 13. I think Bivol will win that bout because he’s a better all-around fighter than Beterbiev but it will he’s ultimate test. … Daniel Dubois (20-2, 19 KOs) gave arguably the strongest performance of his career, outworking and then stopping 333-pound Jarrell Miller in the 10th and final round of a grueling fight. The winner outlanded his opponent 208-107, according to CompuBox. The victory was a significant step back into title contention after his knockout loss against Usyk, in which some fans believe he quit. Meanwhile, it’s difficult to be sympathetic to Miller, who has failed two drug tests.  …

Agit Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) turned in an impressive upset, stopping hulking Arslanbek Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) in the fourth round of their heavyweight matchup to raise his profile. It was Kabayel’s all-around ability vs. Makhumdov’s brawn and power, which turned out to be a mismatch. … Talented heavyweight contender Frank Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Junior Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) away in the seventh round, just another impressive performance from the Cuban. He’s clearly ready to take on a next-level opponent. … And, finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to 92-year-old Hall of Fame TV analyst and accomplished journalist Larry Merchant, who reportedly was rushed to the hospital and placed in a critical care unit this week. No further details were available. Merchant is the best analyst ever. And those in the business who have had the privilege of spending time with him cherish his friendship.

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Anthony Joshua breaks down, stops Otto Wallin in vintage performance

Anthony Joshua broke down and then stopped Otto Wallin after five one-sided rounds in a vintage performance Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua looked a lot like the AJ of old.

The former heavyweight champion overwhelmed capable Otto Wallin on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, beating him up, breaking him down and finally stopping him after five dominating rounds.

Joshua controlled the fight from the beginning, picking Wallin apart with his heavy jab and a variety of power punches to the head and body — and taking little in return — until the Swede’s trainer Joey Gamache decided his fighter had taken enough punishment.

Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) gave Tyson Fury all he could handle in a unanimous decision loss in 2019 and had won six consecutive fights since. However, Joshua never gave him a chance to get anything going in what amounted to a blow out.

The punch that might’ve sealed Wallin’s fate was a big left hook that rocked him with about a minute to go in the final round. He survived but when he got back to his corner and Gamache gave him a good look, the fight was over.

The loser was cut below his right eye and on the bridge of damaged nose by the end of the fight, which might’ve contributed to Gamache’s decision to stop the fight.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) has now won three consecutive bouts since he lost back-to-back meetings with Oleksandr Usyk, including a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius this past August.

However, on Saturday, he might’ve given his best performance since the days before Andy Ruiz Jr. stunned the boxing world by stopping him in seven rounds in 2019.

His victory not only puts him in a commanding position to fight once more for a major title. It seems as if this version of the 34-year-old from England is capable of beating anyone.

What might be next?

A planned showdown with Deontay Wilder in March is off the table after Joseph Parker’s one-sided decision over Wilder immediately before the Joshua-Wallin fight in Riyadh.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter, said afterward that he would pursue a matchup with unbeaten and fast-rising Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs), who stopped Mark De Mori in the first round on the same card.

Then, if things go well in that fight, he’ll have to wait to see how the Feb. 17 Fury-Usyk fight goes and what might follow. Fury and Usyk agreed to a two-way rematch clause.

That surely is OK with Joshua. He’s where he wants to be. He has momentum again after the disappointments against Usyk and he’s first in line to fight for a championship when things sort themselves out.

[lawrence-related id=40324,40283,40314,40289,40286,40296]

Anthony Joshua breaks down, stops Otto Wallin in vintage performance

Anthony Joshua broke down and then stopped Otto Wallin after five one-sided rounds in a vintage performance Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Anthony Joshua looked a lot like the AJ of old.

The former heavyweight champion overwhelmed capable Otto Wallin on Saturday night at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, beating him up, breaking him down and finally stopping him after five dominating rounds.

Joshua controlled the fight from the beginning, picking Wallin apart with his heavy jab and a variety of power punches to the head and body — and taking little in return — until the Swede’s trainer Joey Gamache decided his fighter had taken enough punishment.

Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) gave Tyson Fury all he could handle in a unanimous decision loss in 2019 and had won six consecutive fights since. However, Joshua never gave him a chance to get anything going in what amounted to a blow out.

The punch that might’ve sealed Wallin’s fate was a big left hook that rocked him with about a minute to go in the final round. He survived but when he got back to his corner and Gamache gave him a good look, the fight was over.

The loser was cut below his right eye and on the bridge of damaged nose by the end of the fight, which might’ve contributed to Gamache’s decision to stop the fight.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) has now won three consecutive bouts since he lost back-to-back meetings with Oleksandr Usyk, including a seventh-round knockout of Robert Helenius this past August.

However, on Saturday, he might’ve given his best performance since the days before Andy Ruiz Jr. stunned the boxing world by stopping him in seven rounds in 2019.

His victory not only puts him in a commanding position to fight once more for a major title. It seems as if this version of the 34-year-old from England is capable of beating anyone.

What might be next?

A planned showdown with Deontay Wilder in March is off the table after Joseph Parker’s one-sided decision over Wilder immediately before the Joshua-Wallin fight in Riyadh.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter, said afterward that he would pursue a matchup with unbeaten and fast-rising Filip Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs), who stopped Mark De Mori in the first round on the same card.

Then, if things go well in that fight, he’ll have to wait to see how the Feb. 17 Fury-Usyk fight goes and what might follow. Fury and Usyk agreed to a two-way rematch clause.

That surely is OK with Joshua. He’s where he wants to be. He has momentum again after the disappointments against Usyk and he’s first in line to fight for a championship when things sort themselves out.

[lawrence-related id=40324,40283,40314,40289,40286,40296]

Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin at Day of Reckoning: Best photos

Check out these photos from Anthony Joshua’s stoppage win over Otto Wallin at Day of Reckoning in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Check out these photos from [autotag]Anthony Joshua[/autotag]’s TKO victory vs. Otto Wallin at Day of Reckoning, which took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photos by Richard Pelham, Getty Images)

Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua card: LIVE updates, results, full coverage

Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua card in Saudi Arabia: LIVE updates, results, full coverage.

Anthony Joshua stopped Otto Wallin after five dominating rounds of a scheduled 12-rounder.

The former heavyweight champion dominated the fight from the beginning, picking Wallin apart and breaking him down until the Swede’s trainer Joey Gamache decided his fighter had taken enough punishment.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) has now won three consecutive fights since he lost back-to-back bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.

The winner looked as if he was near his best, fighting behind his long jab and landing a variety of power punches to overwhelm Wallin, who could never get on track.

The blow that might’ve sealed Wallin’s fate with a big left hook that rocked him with about a minute to go in the final round. He survived but when he got back to his corner and Gamache gave him a good look, the fight was over.

Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) had won six consecutive fights since he lost a decision against Fury in 2019.

***

Joseph Parker defeated Deontay Wilder by a unanimous decision in a one-sided battle of former heavyweight titleholders.

The official scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 118-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Parker, 10 rounds to two.

Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) executed a smart game plan, staying outside the reach of a huge puncher or rushing inside to smother him while finding opportune times to attack.

The Kiwi was particularly effective with his overhand right hand, which found the mark on numerous occasions.

Wilder did more waiting than punching, evidently trying to find an opening to land his vaunted right hand. That never happened. As a result, he let round by round — and ultimately the fight — slip away.

The victory was one of the biggest in the career of Parker, who has won four consecutive fights since he was stopped by Joe Joyce in September of last year.

He’s now in a strong position to fight for a major title in the coming year.

Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had fought only one round the past two years, his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October of last year. That followed back-to-back knockout losses to Tyson Fury, which might’ve taken something out of the 38-year-old.

He and Anthony Joshua had agreed to meet in March if things went well on Saturday.

***

Dmitry Bivol dropped overmatched Lyndon Arthur en route to winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) dominated the fight from the beginning with his consistent jab, quick, straight right hands, an occasional body shot and his knack for avoiding his opponent’s best shots.

Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs) jabbed and threw some power shots but he was more concerned with surviving — parrying Bivol’s punches, ducking out of the way or holding — than mounting an offense of his own.

That’s how Bivol was able to win round after round of a one-sided fight.

Bivol put Arthur down in the final seconds of Round 11, the result of a flurry of shots capped by a vicious left to the body that forced Arthur to take a knee. The Russian tried to finish the job in Round 12 with two salvos but the loser managed to stay on his feet.

All three judges scored it the same, 120-107. Boxing Junkie had the same score.

Bivol was fighting for the first time this year. He was the consensus 2022 Fighter of the Year after beating Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez.

He could face fellow beltholder Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship next if Beterbiev gets past Callum Smith on Jan. 13.

***

Daniel Dubois stopped fellow heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller in the final seconds of a 10-round bout he had dominated.

Dubois (20-2, 18 KOs) used stick-and-move tactics and timely toe-to-toe exchanges to outwork Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs), who outweighed the winner by 94 pounds.

Dubois got off to a strong start, jabbing, moving and beating the slower Miller to the punch. Miller came on in the fourth and fifth rounds, when he landed many of his best punches of the fight.

However, Dubois reclaimed the momentum after that and never gave it up. The Londoner landed power punches almost at will in the second half of the fight, when the 333-pound Miller grew weary.

It appeared that Dubois was destined to win a decision but a series of answered power punches forced the referee to stop the action. Only eight seconds remained in the fight.

Dubois was coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk in August, which put him in a must-win situation on Saturday. And he never looked better.

Miller was in the midst of a comeback after failed drug tests derailed the New Yorker’s career.

***

Agit Kabayel upset fellow heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov, putting him down three times before the fight was stopped in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-round bout.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:03.

Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) boxed cleverly for two rounds, making it difficult for the plodding Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) to get anything accomplished.

Then the German asserted himself, landing a series of punishing power punches that began to hurt Makhmudov beginning in Round 3. Kabayel’s body work was particularly effective.

It was a left to the gut that forced Makhmudov to the canvas for the first time about a minute into Round 4. The Russian tried to fight back but he went down again from another body blow 30 seconds later.

Again, Makhudodov got to his feet but a flurry of punches with his back against the ropes convinced the referee that enough was enough.

***

Former cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia stopped Ellis Zorro with a mammoth left hand to the jaw at 2:56 of the first round of a scheduled 12-round bout.

Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) landed with his head on the bottom rope, where he remained until the referee waived off the fight.

The fighters were engaged in an uneventful first round — no significant punches had landed — when Opetaia’s big shot changed everything.

Opetaia, recognized as the top 200-pounder, announced during fight week that he had vacated his IBF title because the sanctioning body ordered him to face Mairis Briedis in a rematch.

Opetaia outpointed Briedis to win his belt in July of last year.

***

Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic knocked out overmatched Mark De Mori at 1:46 of the first round of a scheduled 10-rounder.

Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) put De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) down and hurt him with a right hand about a minute into the fight. The Aussie was able to get up but a series of hard, unanswered follow-up blows convinced the referee to end the wipe out.

Hrgovic is ranked No. 1 by the IBF, meaning he’s first in line to fight for Oleksandr Usyk’s title. Usyk is scheduled to face Tyson Fury on Feb. 17.

***

Frank Sanchez knocked out fellow heavyweight contender Junior Fa in the seventh round of a 10-round bout.

The beginning of the end came in the final seconds of Round 6, when Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) down with a straight right hand to the chin.

Another big right from the Cuban, followed by a flurry of hard shots, put Fa down again and hurt him about a minute into Round 7. The Kiwi was able to get up but he went down once more — again from a right — with about 30 seconds to go.

This time the referee stopped the fight, giving Sanchez his fourth consecutive stoppage. The end came with 18 seconds remaining in the round.

Fa has now lost three of his last four fights.

***

Former heavyweight champs Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua fight in separate bouts on a massive pay-per-view card Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Wilder will face another former beltholder, Joseph Parker Jr. And, in the main event, Joshua will take on former title challenger Otto Wallin. Wilder and Joshua have agreed to fight one another in March if things go well at Kingdom Arena.

The featured portion of the show is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT. (main event later in the show).

Also on the card: Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur, light heavyweights (for Bivol’s WBA title); Filip Hrgovic vs. Mark De Mori, heavyweights; Jai Opetaia vs. Ellis Zorro, cruiserweights (for Opetaia’s IBF title); Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller, heavyweights; Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Agit Kabayel, heavyweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Junior Fa, heavyweights.

Boxing Junkie will post results, as well as a brief summary, immediately after each fight ends. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – detailed fight stories, analysis and more – will follow on separate posts the night of the card and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

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Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua card: LIVE updates, results, full coverage

Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua card in Saudi Arabia: LIVE updates, results, full coverage.

Anthony Joshua stopped Otto Wallin after five dominating rounds of a scheduled 12-rounder.

The former heavyweight champion dominated the fight from the beginning, picking Wallin apart and breaking him down until the Swede’s trainer Joey Gamache decided his fighter had taken enough punishment.

Joshua (27-3, 24 KOs) has now won three consecutive fights since he lost back-to-back bouts to Oleksandr Usyk.

The winner looked as if he was near his best, fighting behind his long jab and landing a variety of power punches to overwhelm Wallin, who could never get on track.

The blow that might’ve sealed Wallin’s fate with a big left hook that rocked him with about a minute to go in the final round. He survived but when he got back to his corner and Gamache gave him a good look, the fight was over.

Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) had won six consecutive fights since he lost a decision against Fury in 2019.

***

Joseph Parker defeated Deontay Wilder by a unanimous decision in a one-sided battle of former heavyweight titleholders.

The official scores were 120-108, 118-110 and 118-111. Boxing Junkie scored it 118-110 for Parker, 10 rounds to two.

Parker (34-3, 23 KOs) executed a smart game plan, staying outside the reach of a huge puncher or rushing inside to smother him while finding opportune times to attack.

The Kiwi was particularly effective with his overhand right hand, which found the mark on numerous occasions.

Wilder did more waiting than punching, evidently trying to find an opening to land his vaunted right hand. That never happened. As a result, he let round by round — and ultimately the fight — slip away.

The victory was one of the biggest in the career of Parker, who has won four consecutive fights since he was stopped by Joe Joyce in September of last year.

He’s now in a strong position to fight for a major title in the coming year.

Wilder (43-3-1, 42 KOs) had fought only one round the past two years, his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October of last year. That followed back-to-back knockout losses to Tyson Fury, which might’ve taken something out of the 38-year-old.

He and Anthony Joshua had agreed to meet in March if things went well on Saturday.

***

Dmitry Bivol dropped overmatched Lyndon Arthur en route to winning a shutout decision in defense of his 175-pound title.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) dominated the fight from the beginning with his consistent jab, quick, straight right hands, an occasional body shot and his knack for avoiding his opponent’s best shots.

Arthur (23-2, 16 KOs) jabbed and threw some power shots but he was more concerned with surviving — parrying Bivol’s punches, ducking out of the way or holding — than mounting an offense of his own.

That’s how Bivol was able to win round after round of a one-sided fight.

Bivol put Arthur down in the final seconds of Round 11, the result of a flurry of shots capped by a vicious left to the body that forced Arthur to take a knee. The Russian tried to finish the job in Round 12 with two salvos but the loser managed to stay on his feet.

All three judges scored it the same, 120-107. Boxing Junkie had the same score.

Bivol was fighting for the first time this year. He was the consensus 2022 Fighter of the Year after beating Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez.

He could face fellow beltholder Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed championship next if Beterbiev gets past Callum Smith on Jan. 13.

***

Daniel Dubois stopped fellow heavyweight contender Jarrell Miller in the final seconds of a 10-round bout he had dominated.

Dubois (20-2, 18 KOs) used stick-and-move tactics and timely toe-to-toe exchanges to outwork Miller (26-1-1, 22 KOs), who outweighed the winner by 94 pounds.

Dubois got off to a strong start, jabbing, moving and beating the slower Miller to the punch. Miller came on in the fourth and fifth rounds, when he landed many of his best punches of the fight.

However, Dubois reclaimed the momentum after that and never gave it up. The Londoner landed power punches almost at will in the second half of the fight, when the 333-pound Miller grew weary.

It appeared that Dubois was destined to win a decision but a series of answered power punches forced the referee to stop the action. Only eight seconds remained in the fight.

Dubois was coming off a ninth-round knockout loss to unified titleholder Oleksandr Usyk in August, which put him in a must-win situation on Saturday. And he never looked better.

Miller was in the midst of a comeback after failed drug tests derailed the New Yorker’s career.

***

Agit Kabayel upset fellow heavyweight contender Arslanbek Makhmudov, putting him down three times before the fight was stopped in the fourth round of a scheduled 10-round bout.

The official time of the stoppage was 2:03.

Kabayel (24-0, 16 KOs) boxed cleverly for two rounds, making it difficult for the plodding Makhmudov (18-1, 17 KOs) to get anything accomplished.

Then the German asserted himself, landing a series of punishing power punches that began to hurt Makhmudov beginning in Round 3. Kabayel’s body work was particularly effective.

It was a left to the gut that forced Makhmudov to the canvas for the first time about a minute into Round 4. The Russian tried to fight back but he went down again from another body blow 30 seconds later.

Again, Makhudodov got to his feet but a flurry of punches with his back against the ropes convinced the referee that enough was enough.

***

Former cruiserweight titleholder Jai Opetaia stopped Ellis Zorro with a mammoth left hand to the jaw at 2:56 of the first round of a scheduled 12-round bout.

Zorro (17-1, 7 KOs) landed with his head on the bottom rope, where he remained until the referee waived off the fight.

The fighters were engaged in an uneventful first round — no significant punches had landed — when Opetaia’s big shot changed everything.

Opetaia, recognized as the top 200-pounder, announced during fight week that he had vacated his IBF title because the sanctioning body ordered him to face Mairis Briedis in a rematch.

Opetaia outpointed Briedis to win his belt in July of last year.

***

Heavyweight contender Filip Hrgovic knocked out overmatched Mark De Mori at 1:46 of the first round of a scheduled 10-rounder.

Hrgovic (17-0, 14 KOs) put De Mori (41-3-2, 36 KOs) down and hurt him with a right hand about a minute into the fight. The Aussie was able to get up but a series of hard, unanswered follow-up blows convinced the referee to end the wipe out.

Hrgovic is ranked No. 1 by the IBF, meaning he’s first in line to fight for Oleksandr Usyk’s title. Usyk is scheduled to face Tyson Fury on Feb. 17.

***

Frank Sanchez knocked out fellow heavyweight contender Junior Fa in the seventh round of a 10-round bout.

The beginning of the end came in the final seconds of Round 6, when Sanchez (24-0, 17 KOs) put Fa (20-3, 11 KOs) down with a straight right hand to the chin.

Another big right from the Cuban, followed by a flurry of hard shots, put Fa down again and hurt him about a minute into Round 7. The Kiwi was able to get up but he went down once more — again from a right — with about 30 seconds to go.

This time the referee stopped the fight, giving Sanchez his fourth consecutive stoppage. The end came with 18 seconds remaining in the round.

Fa has now lost three of his last four fights.

***

Former heavyweight champs Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua fight in separate bouts on a massive pay-per-view card Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Wilder will face another former beltholder, Joseph Parker Jr. And, in the main event, Joshua will take on former title challenger Otto Wallin. Wilder and Joshua have agreed to fight one another in March if things go well at Kingdom Arena.

The featured portion of the show is scheduled to begin at 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT. (main event later in the show).

Also on the card: Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur, light heavyweights (for Bivol’s WBA title); Filip Hrgovic vs. Mark De Mori, heavyweights; Jai Opetaia vs. Ellis Zorro, cruiserweights (for Opetaia’s IBF title); Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller, heavyweights; Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Agit Kabayel, heavyweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Junior Fa, heavyweights.

Boxing Junkie will post results, as well as a brief summary, immediately after each fight ends. Simply return to this post and refresh when the time comes.

Full coverage – detailed fight stories, analysis and more – will follow on separate posts the night of the card and the following day.

Enjoy the fights!

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Photos: Deontay Wilder, Anthony Joshua weigh in for their fights on Saturday

Photos: Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua weighed in Friday for their separate fights on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.

Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua on Friday came in around their typical weights for their separate fights Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (pay-per-view).

Wilder tipped the scales at 213 pounds, 1½ less than he weighed for his first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October. His opponent, Joseph Parker Jr., was 245¼.

Joshua weighed 251, 1 more than his weight for his seventh-round KO of Helenius in August. He’s fighting Otto Wallin, who weighed 238½.

The weights for other featured fights on the card:

  • Dmitry Bivol (174½) vs. Lyndon Arthur (174¼), light heavyweights
  • Filip Hrgovic (246) vs. Mark De Mori (242½), heavyweights
  • Jai Opetaia (198½) vs. Ellis Zorro (197½), cruiserweights
  • Daniel Dubois (239) vs. Jarrell Miller (333), heavyweights
  • Arslanbek Makhmudov (262) vs. Agit Kabayel (241¼), heavyweights
  • Frank Sanchez (238) vs. Junior Fa (279), heavyweights

Here are images from the weigh-in. All photos by Fayez Nureldine / AFP via Getty Images.

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Day of Reckoning photos: Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder grand arrivals and media workout

Check out these photos of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker ahead of the Day of Reckoning event in Saudi Arabia.

Check out these photos from the grand arrivals and media workout ahead of the year’s final big boxing event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The event is headlined by [autotag]Anthony Joshua[/autotag] vs. Otto Wallin and also features [autotag]Deontay Wilder[/autotag] vs. Joseph Parker. (Photos by Richard Pelham, Getty Images)

Wilder-Joshua-Bivol card in Saudi Arabia: Date, time, how to watch, background

Deontay Wilder-Anthony Joshua-Dmitry Bivol card in Saudi Arabia: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Deontay Wilder is scheduled to face Joseph Parker Jr. and Anthony Joshua will take on Otto Wallin in the headline fights on a massive card that also features the return of Dmitry Bivol on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

DEONTAY WILDER (43-2-1, 42 KOs)
vs. JOSEPH PARKER JR. (33-3, 23 KOs)

ANTHONY JOSHUA (26-3, 23 KOs)
vs. OTTO WALLIN (26-1, 14 KOs)

DMITRY BIVOL (21-0, 11 KOs)
vs. LYNDON ARTHUR (23-1, 16 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Dec. 23
  • Time: 11 a.m. ET / 8 a.m. PT (7 p.m. local time) (main event later in show)
  • Where: Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
  • TV/Stream: Pay-per-view
  • Division: Heavyweight (no limit) and light heavyweight (175 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles in heavyweight fights; Bivol’s WBA 175-pound title
  • Odds: Wilder 5-1 favorite over Parker; Joshua 3-1 favorite over Wallin; Bivol 16-1 favorite over Arthur (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Filip Hrgovic vs. Mark De Mori, heavyweights; Jai Opetaia vs. Ellis Zorro, cruiserweights (for Opetaia’s IBF title); Daniel Dubois vs. Jarrell Miller, heavyweights; Arslanbek Makhmudov vs. Agit Kabayel, heavyweights; Frank Sanchez vs. Junior Fa, heavyweights
  • Predictions: Wilder KO 7, Joshua UD, Bivol UD
  • Background: Wilder vs. Parker: Wilder and Joshua fight in separate bouts on this massive pay-per-view card in the capital city of Saudi Arabia. Wilder was stopped by Tyson Fury in back-to-back fights in 2020 and 2021, the first of which cost him the WBC heavyweight title. The 38-year-old from Alabama, arguably the hardest puncher in history, rebounded by knocking out contender Robert Helenius with a short right hand in the first round in October of last year. That victory was Wilder’s first since November 2019, when he stopped Luis Ortiz in the seventh round in the final successful defense of his belt. He and Joshua have an agreement in place to fight on March 9 if they win on Saturday and don’t suffer injuries. Parker, also a former titleholder, has beaten three obscure opponents since he was knocked out in 11 rounds by Joe Joyce in September of last year. The 31-year-old Kiwi was the WBO titleholder from 2016 to 2018, when he lost his belt to Joshua by a one-sided decision. He hasn’t taken part in a major title fight since that setback.
  • Background: Joshua vs. Wallin: Joshua, a two-time titleholder, also is hoping to work his way back to the top after back-to-back losses. He lost a clear decision and three belts to former cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and came up short by a split decision in the rematch in August of last year. He easily outpointed Jermaine Franklin in his next fight, this past April. And he knocked out Helenius in the seventh round on Aug. 12, his most recent bout. Joshua, 34, is 4-3 in his last seven fights. He has said that he is making one last run at the heavyweight championship. Wallin, a New York-based Swede, made a strong impression by pushing Fury harder than expected in a unanimous decision setback in 2019. He has won six consecutive fights since, including a split decision over Murat Gassiev on Sept. 30. Wallin’s technical ability is comparable to Joshua’s but he can’t match his British counterpart’s punching power.
  • Background: Bivol vs. Arthur: Bivol is coming off a break through year last year, which started with the master technician’s stunning unanimous decision victory over Canelo Alvarez in May and concluded with a one-sided decision over previously unbeaten Gilberto Ramirez in November. The latter fight was Bivol’s most recent appearance, meaning he will have been out of the ring for more than 13 months. The Russian has begun maneuvering for a showdown with countryman Artur Beterbiev for the undisputed 175-pound championship, assuming he beats Arthur and Beterbiev retains his three belts against Callum Smith on Jan. 13. Arthur, ranked No. 9 by the IBF, is a solid all-around fighter from England who is best known for his two fights with two-time title challenger Anthony Yarde. He upset Yarde by a split decision in 2020 but was stopped by his countryman in four rounds the following year. He has won four consecutive fights since, albeit against marginal opposition.

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