Anthony Joshua finishes Otto Wallin via corner stoppage

Preview

Anthony Joshua will fight for the third time this calendar year when he takes on Otto Wallin today. The 34-year-old former champion looked a little flat in his last bout against Finnish heavyweight Robert Helenius. Joshua would get the knockout, but not until the seventh round and Helenius managed to get in a few good shots that left many wondering if Anthony still has what it takes to get back to his champion ways.

After taking back-to-back losses last year to Oleksandr Usyk, the Brit would take two tune up bouts to get his mojo back. As mentioned, he finished Helenius but ended up going to the judges’ score cards against Jermaine Franklin. Now he has a chance to get a third consecutive win, and according to many media sources, has agreed to fight Deontay Wilder next year.

But ahead of Wilder is Otto Wallin, and there is a growing contingent of fans that think Wallin has a legitimate chance of upsetting the apple cart. The 33-year-old Swede is probably most famous for having taken his only professional loss to Tyson Fury in a fight that went to a unanimous decision.

Early in his career and periodically against lower level opponents, Wallin demonstrates power, but when paired with better skill sets, he tends to go to the cards. He’s put six wins between his only loss and this fight, so now we’ll see if he’s got what it takes to keep Anthony Joshua out of the title picture.

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin live play-by-play

Round 1

Both men come out with a jab extended but just pawing with it currently. Joshua lands first with a right to the chest. Left by Joshua lands up top. And another. Wallin just misses with a body shot. Left by AJ. Right by Wallin up top lands. Double jab by Wallin is blocked.

Left by Aj makes it through Wallin’s guard. Right to the body by AJ. Wallin is jabbing but fallin short. AJ sneaks in another quick jab to the nose. Left up top by AJ. Round over. There is currently no sound and a yellow notification saying “Apologies for the audio issues”. LOL.

Round 2

Still no audio. More pawing jabs to start. AJ lands a nice one-two and Wallin rushes in and lands a nice right. Left jab by Wallin makes it through. Wallin with a double jab up top. AJ’s jab finds the mark up top. And again.

Left up top followed by a right to the gut for AJ. Wallin whiffs on a right hook. Wallin sneaks a right in over AJ’s guard. Double jab up top and a right to the middle by Wallin. Bice right cross by AJ. Shot to the middle by AJ. Wallin falling short on a lot of his punches. Joshua staying out of range and pot-shotting as the round ends.

Round 3

Still no audio. AJ with a left to the ribs then a one-two up top. Wallin working the jab but it’s either blocked or falls short. AJ with a left to the chest. Wallin lands two nice jabs up top.Right by AJ is blocked. AJ unloading a little but Wallin keeping his hands up and blocking well. Wallin with a nice jab.

AJ lands a jab then unleashes a big one-two. The two landed but the one was blocked. Beautiful shot to the gut by AJ. His body work is excellent today. Wallin with a right up top and an attempt at the midsection. AJ with another gut tenderizer. Round over.

Round 4

We finally have audio! Huzzah! Wallin starts with a double jab. He’s bleeding from the nose and under the right eye. AJ is targeting the middle and landing every time. He follows with a quick shot up top and lands those too. Wallin ties up.

AJ with a big one-two then one to the gut. Joshua misses on a huge right. Joshua parts the guard of Wallin. AJ with a nast left to the nose. And another. Right hook by AJ. This is all one-way traffic so far. AJ with a big left then one to the body. Wallin got a nice right in but ate one in return. A right lands for Wallin as the round ends.

Round 5

AJ with a right to the body. Wallin doubles the jab up top but it hasn’t got much on it. AJ is landing at will now. He’s got Wallin in the corner and targets the body then up top. He looks sharp tonight. Gorgeous one-two by AJ. Right hand slams through Wallin’s guard.

Wallin is struggling to land. Aj with a huge one two staggers Wallin. He goes in for the kill but Wallin smartly gets away. Another shot to the gut by AJ. Right hook by AJ. Left to the ribs by Joshua. Left lands for Wallin but only on the arm. AJ lands one more to the gut as the bell rings. The corner of Wallin has called off the fight.

Official Decision

Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via TKO (corner stoppage) at 3:00 of round 5

Day of Reckoning Quick Results

• – Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via TKO (corner stoppage) at 3:00 of round 5
• – Deontay Wilder (43-2-1) 🇺🇸 vs. Joseph Parker (33-3) 🇦🇺; heavyweight
• – Dmitry Bivol def. Lyndon Arthur by unanimous decision (120-107 x3)
• – Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Mori by TKO at 1:46 of round 1
• – Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller by TKO at 2:52 of round 10
• – Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa by TKO at 2:42 of round 7
• – Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro by KO at 2:56 of round 1
• – Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov by TKO at 2:03 of round 4

Start date and time

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin goes down on Sat., Dec. 23, live from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The main card starts at 11 a.m. ET | 8 a.m. PT.

Ringwalks for Joshua vs. Wallin are expected around 6:45 p.m. ET | 3:45 p.m PT.

Live streams

The ‘Day of Reckoning’ featuring Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin airs exclusively on DAZN. You can sign up for the streaming service here. Prices for DAZN start at $19.99 USD | $24.99 CAD | £9.99 GBP | $13.99 AUD per month.

This pay-per-view is priced at $39.99 USD through DAZN.

DAZN has an exclusive offer for US viewers interested in purchasing the ‘Day of Reckoning’ pay-per-view: When you purchase the PPV for $39.99 under the Monthly Saver plan, your first month of DAZN is $0.01. Under the Flexible Pass plan, your first month of DAZN is $5.