Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin LIVE: Updates and build-up to Day of Reckoning including Wilder v Parker

Wilder’s unique preparation for Saturday’s fight has included a retreat to the Rythmia facility in Costa Rica, where he took a South American psychoactive brew called ayahuasca.

“I don’t want to say he’s 100 per cent afraid, but I think he’s 75 per cent,” Wilder told the BBC. “I’ve learned over the years, especially dealing in boxing, that nothing is for sure until it’s for sure. And I know that’s a little bit confusing, but what’s understood doesn’t have to be explained.

“We’ll see what happens. The future is bright and we are further [in talks] than we’ve ever been in history. I can say that with certainty. Money hasn’t been the issue. It comes with [Joshua] not having the heart, the will, the courage to step in the ring.

Deontay Wilder ducks his head, cramping his 6ft 6in frame under the vent in a seemingly endless, narrow green hallway in Wembley Arena, and howling as he marches towards his dressing room. Across the corridor – three steps for you or me, one for the American – is Anthony Joshua’s dressing room.

Once inside his own, Wilder hurries to the bathroom, where he belts out the refrain of “This Is How We Do It” repeatedly, for about 90 seconds. When he emerges, the “Bronze Bomber” is ready to get down to brass tacks. Wilder soon declares that he has been metaphorically “knocking on Joshua’s door for years”, but what if he were to take the short trip across the hall and knock literally?

“At this moment in time, I’d tell him it’s good to see him,” the 38-year-old tells The Independent and a small group of reporters. “I’d tell him it has been a long time coming, and I wish him nothing but the best.” Moments later, in Joshua’s dressing room, I ask the Briton the same question. “I’d probably do more listening than talking,” the 34-year-old replies. “I don’t have much to say to these guys. I don’t have much to say. These heavyweights, man…”

The two men taking part in the main event, as well as the undercard fights, were squaring up at the weigh-in yesterday in Riyadh.

Boxing journalist Dan Rafael reported this week that Joshua, 34, and Wilder, 38, have reached a deal over two bouts in 2024, after ESPN said the heavyweights would clash on 9 March. Rafael reported that a contract is expected to be signed ahead of Joshua and Wilder’s respective fights on Saturday, where “AJ” boxes Otto Wallin on the same card as Wilder’s contest with Joseph Parker.

Anthony Joshua admits “there is no future” if he fails to beat Otto Wallin on the “Day of Reckoning” in Saudi Arabia this evening.

The two-time world champion is aiming to win his third fight of 2023 after already gaining victories over Jermaine Franklin Jr and Robert Helenius earlier in the year as he looks to step back to the top of the heavyweight division.

Joshua has three career defeats to date, Andy Ruiz Jr inflicted his first loss in 2019 before Oleksandr Usyk beat him for the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles on two occasions.

The 34-year-old understands that defeat could be damaging for his future in the sport.

To settle those individual debates diplomatically: Drawing power may depend on geography and demographics; as destructive as “AJ” can be, his American counterpart may have an edge when it comes to power; and while Wallin has a tidier record than Parker, the latter is a former world champion with an arguably stronger resume than the Swede. Wilder, then, may win out – both in likelihood of producing a KO and being upset by his opponent, as strange as that sounds.

Ultimately, though, Joshua vs Wallin has been listed as Saturday’s main event, and that decision can be justified for finer, more intriguing factors than those above.

Firstly, there is Joshua’s history with Wallin. The Briton boxed the Swede twice as an amateur, outpointing him in 2010 and 2011. Each contest lasted just three rounds, but the heavyweights shared the ring again as sparring partners in 2016. At the time, Wallin told Sky Sports: “[In the amateurs] he was strong and fast, but I think he’s better technically and even stronger and faster now. He’s clever, too, now. You’ve got to be clever when you’re sparring him, move your head and be elusive to make him think. If you’re sitting back with him, he is going to get you out of there quick.”

Our Combat Sports Correspondent Alex Pattle breaks down AJ’s latest fight:

The business of boxing is simple: build something, find the heavyweights, in this case Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder and several others, find the money and they will come. It really is that easy.

It was casino cash in Las Vegas and Atlantic City, and now it is investment money from the government that has attracted the boxers, their entourages, promoters, fixers, floaters and other assorted characters in the boxing circus to the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

Read Steve Bunce’s full analysis of the Saudi boxing revolution:

Fair to say, it’s an absolutely stacked card this evening. Here’s how it will all shake out with the event due to begin at 4pm GMT (9am PT, 11am CT, 12pm ET), with ring walks for the main event – which is currently listed as Joshua vs Wallin – scheduled for 11.45pm GMT (4.45pm PT, 6.45pm CT, 7.45pm ET).

Full card (subject to change)

Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin (heavyweight)

Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker (heavyweight)

Dmitry Bivol (C) vs Lyndon Arthur (WBA light-heavyweight title)

Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller (heavyweight)

Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori (heavyweight)

Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro (cruiserweight)

Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa (heavyweight)

Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel (heavyweight)

Wilder, 38, has his own history with Fury, having lost the WBC heavyweight title to the Briton in the middle of their trilogy – in which Fury stopped the American in 2020 and 2021 after a controversial draw in 2018. Wilder, however, bounced back in his sole fight since, knocking out Robert Helenius in round one in October 2022.

Like Wilder, Parker’s aim is to become a world heavyweight champion again, and the New Zealander faces one of his toughest tests yet on Saturday (23 December). The 31-year-old can, however, draw on his experience against the likes of Anthony Joshua, Joe Joyce, Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora.

Here’s all you need to know: