By Scott Gilfoid: Otto Wallin says talks have begun between his promoter and Anthony Joshua’s management for a fight in 2023.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently mentioned the 32-year-old Wallin (24-1, 14 KOs) as one of the potential opponents for the former two-time heavyweight champion Joshua to fight in February or March next year.
Wallin might be too much of a live dog for Hearn to allow him to be the opponent.
After the way Wallin looked against Tyson Fury, he’s arguably too tough, too durable, and too dangerous for the fragile-chinned Joshua to fight. The chances of Wallin finishing off what’s left of Joshua’s career are too high for Hearn to want to use him as AJ’s next opponent.
“There is nothing new and concrete for me to report on at this stage. But there are some good talks about me and Anthony Joshua fighting each other,” Wallin told Rekatochklart.
Wallin’s last four fights:
- Rydell Booker
- Kamil Sokolowski
- Dominic Breazeale
- Travis Kauffman
“I should probably know later this week if they’re going to come with a real offer,” said Wallin about an offer he’s expecting from Joshua.
“There are some good talks between the promoters, and I’m hopeful for that fight. Nothing concrete yet, but I’m hoping to get a real offer this week.”
Let’s face it, Joshua’s career is on the brink of collapse after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, and nothing good could come from putting him in with a game-heavyweight like Wallin. Mentally & physically, Joshua is too weak to be matched against a blue-chipper like Wallin.
Whether Wallin gets the fight with Joshua is unlikely, as Hearn has doggedly determined to push a fight between AJ and the played-out gatekeeper Dillian Whyte for early next year in a stadium in the UK.
Hearn believes the British fans will turn out in huge numbers to watch Joshua and Whyte fight a rematch despite how poor Dillian has looked in his last two fights against Jermaine Franklin and Fury.
Many fans felt the 34-year-old Whyte was given an old-fashioned hometown decision last weekend against Franklin (21-1, 14 KOs) in London, England.
Interestingly, Hearn, who promotes Whyte, had him winning 115-113. This writer had Franklin winning 9-3, which wasn’t a close fight.
The younger fighter Franklin dominated the ancient-looking fossil Whyte, appearing to win the first nine rounds before tiring in the 10th and giving the last three away.
After the way Whyte looked against Franklin and Fury, it’s alarming that Hearn would still want to use Dillian as an opponent for Joshua to fight in the first half of 2023.
The 6’6″ former Tyson Fury foe, who arguably gave him his toughest career test in 2019, is hoping to face Joshua (24-3, 22 KOs).
Some believe Wallin should have been given the victory in that fight due to Fury suffering a horrendous cut in the second round that should have led to the contest being halted.