• Anthony Joshua speaks to his head coach Ben Davison during the media workout ahead of his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, December 23, 2023. AFP
    Anthony Joshua speaks to his head coach Ben Davison during the media workout ahead of his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, December 23, 2023. AFP
  • British heavyweight Anthony Joshua spent less than a minute shadow boxing for his workout. PA
    British heavyweight Anthony Joshua spent less than a minute shadow boxing for his workout. PA
  • Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn looks on as Anthony Joshua trains during the media workout day. Joshua's fight against Otto Wallin is one of the co-main events on the 'Day of Reckoning' card. Getty
    Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn looks on as Anthony Joshua trains during the media workout day. Joshua's fight against Otto Wallin is one of the co-main events on the 'Day of Reckoning' card. Getty
  • Sweden's Otto Wallin does some light shadow boxing during his workout. Getty
    Sweden's Otto Wallin does some light shadow boxing during his workout. Getty
  • Anthony Joshua poses for a photo with children from a Riyadh boxing club. Getty
    Anthony Joshua poses for a photo with children from a Riyadh boxing club. Getty
  • Otto Wallin has a pro record of 26 wins, one loss and one no contest. Getty
    Otto Wallin has a pro record of 26 wins, one loss and one no contest. Getty
  • Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder hits the pads with head coach Malik Scott. Getty
    Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder hits the pads with head coach Malik Scott. Getty
  • Deontay Wilder takes on another former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in the co-main event at 'Day of Reckoning' in Saudi Arabia. Getty
    Deontay Wilder takes on another former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in the co-main event at 'Day of Reckoning' in Saudi Arabia. Getty
  • American heavyweight Deontay Wilder has won 42 of his 43 fights by knockout, suffering only two defeats and one draw. Getty
    American heavyweight Deontay Wilder has won 42 of his 43 fights by knockout, suffering only two defeats and one draw. Getty
  • Deontay Wilder trains with his head coach Malik Scott. Getty
    Deontay Wilder trains with his head coach Malik Scott. Getty
  • New Zealander Joseph Parker is a former WBO heavyweight champion and Deontay Wilder's opponent on Saturday. Getty
    New Zealander Joseph Parker is a former WBO heavyweight champion and Deontay Wilder's opponent on Saturday. Getty
  • Joseph Parker poses during the media workout. Getty
    Joseph Parker poses during the media workout. Getty

Sport

Combat Sports

Anthony Joshua keeps it low-key as Deontay Wilder is put through his paces in Riyadh

Heavyweight rivals take different approaches to preparations for coming bouts at Saturday's 'Day of Reckoning' in Saudi Arabia

Steve Luckings
Steve Luckings

December 21, 2023

  • English
  • Arabic

Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder went through very different workouts ahead of their coming bouts in Saudi Arabia.

British heavyweight Joshua, who faces Otto Wallin in Riyadh on Saturday, kept his public workout low-key, doing barely a minute of shadow boxing before he invited local youngsters into the ring.

American Wilder, meanwhile, tuned up for his clash with Joseph Parker by giving a glimpse of his awesome power during a more high octane workout with head coach Malik Scott.

Former two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua will step into the ring for 30th time this weekend on a card billed as the "Day of Reckoning", but the talk ahead of this latest bout in Saudi Arabia has swirled around a proposed clash with Wilder in 2024.

“I do want to hurt him, that’s fact,” Joshua (26-3, 23KOs) told TNT Sports, when asked about Wallin.

“This [workout] ain’t fun for me, this is just work. What will be fun is Saturday night getting my hand raised.

“All of this is really nice, but this ain’t for me. This is for the entertainment, for the viewers, for the people who have come to Saudi to watch a night of boxing. My entertainment is in the ring on Saturday night and I’m not there yet so I’ve got to stay focused.

“I’m here with you guys out of contractual obligations so I will fulfil my obligations but ultimately my true, true obligation is to fight on Saturday night.

“I need to win, I have to win and yeah, if it is destined and meant to be, it’s meant to be.”

Before Joshua stepped in the ring for his non-workout, which has been a feature of other fight weeks, Wilder discussed the pressure being put his 34-year-old rival.

Wilder (43-2-1, 42KOs) added: “It’s been so long that people talk about me and him getting in the ring. I think there is a lot more pressure on him than me.

“A lot of people talk about how he responded to media. I had a lot of media come up to me today and ask me about his behaviour. I say you all put a lot of pressure on him. He has got to focus on Otto Wallin.

“You put a lot of pressure on him, I wish everyone would back off him.”

Updated: December 21, 2023, 3:18 PM
Anthony JoshuaSaudi Arabia