Anthony Joshua won his third fight of 2023 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with a TKO victory over Otto Wallin in the main event of the “Day of Reckoning” program.
After beating Jermaine Franklin in April and Robert Helenius with a seventh-round knockout in August, Joshua strolled to a fifth-round technical knockout victory over Wallin, who was supposed to be a tough opponent given his southpaw stance.
Wallin’s only loss prior to Joshua occurred in 2019 against Tyson Fury, in between the Gypsy King’s first and second battles with Wilder. Fury won by majority decision, but the Swedish heavyweight certainly made Fury’s night more difficult than planned.
Joshua now has a record of 27 wins and three losses, with 24 knockout victories.
In the bout preceding Joshua’s, Deontay Wilder was defeated by former WBO heavyweight world champion Joseph Parker by majority decision.
Joey Garnache, Wallin’s coach, interrupted the fight because he didn’t want his guy to take any more punishment.
The two-time heavyweight champion delivered an outstanding effort, telling former adversary Andy Ruiz afterward, “I’m back, I’m back.”