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Joshua to WIN 2/7 BETFRED
Joshua to WIN by KO 13/2 William Hill
Much is written about whether Anthony Joshua, 26-3 (23ko) is the same fighter he was in 2016 when first exploding on to the world-scene as an aggressive, come forward puncher. Either by evolution, or as a result of the trauma of boxing at elite level with thunderous men like Wladimir Klitschko, the master craftsman Oleksander Usyk or the deceptively quick Andy Ruiz, he is much changed.
No other prizefighter, probably since the various reincarnations of Mike Tyson, is challenged on his own form, style or ability to recreate the past and whether he is as good as he once was like Joshua. Questions often posed alongside queries on his own ‘mentality’. The latter a response to the confused ramblings he offered in the aftermath of the Usyk losses.
In pre-fight media obligations for his weekend fixture with Sweden’s capable Otto Wallin, Joshua has bristled at even rudimentary questions. Responses that have fanned rather than extinguished the eternal debate; ‘where is Joshua’s head at?’
All the leading Bookmakers are keen to offer markets for this heavyweight feature.
On Saturday, as the number one attraction on the Day of Reckoning card, the fight with Otto Wallin, 26-1 (14ko), offers the now 34-year-old Joshua with an opportunity to quieten the dissenters and forge the pathway to what could prove to be career defining fights with Deontay Wilder in 2024. His surly demeanour is evocative of men in who’s footsteps he treads and suggests he is either focused solely on the fight and ready to deliver a memorable performance, or he remains an uncomfortable multi-millionaire in a sport he no longer feels respects his accomplishments. Anything is possible in Saudi Arabia this weekend.
Is Wallin worthy of your money?
The majority of the reputation Wallin has built is founded in his surprisingly competitive performance versus Tyson Fury in 2019. Wallin was supposed to be the second of two easy wins in the aftermath of Fury’s draw with Deontay Wilder. Once a cut that would later require 47 stitches opened above Fury’s eye, the pre-fight script was scrubbed and an entirely different one appeared set to be written. Southpaw Wallin failed to capitalise on the advantage and in a messy, blood-soaked encounter succumbed to a wide points defeat.
It established Wallin as a name in the division and confirmed him to be a 6’5 Southpaw few would want to face without a belt or a significant payday by way of compensation for the risk. Wallin likes to jab from his Southpaw lead right, step right and bring the left hand down the middle to body and head. He was deft enough to land it on Fury. He comes forward and has proved durable when hit too. For those who feel Joshua is not the fighter he once was, and his desire to box is ebbing away, Wallin is available at 10/3 to win with SpreadEx, but if he is to win, with all the money lodged on a Joshua v Wilder face off next year, Wallin will need to dominate and perhaps stop Joshua. An outcome available at 8/1 with BETVICTOR with the specific of a 16/1 with William Hill currently available on a Wallin Knockout.
But as Joshua will have noted Wallin makes mistakes too. He throws a very wide left hook which is often slow out and slow back. His head movement is only modest and he is the type of taller opponent Joshua prefers trying to punch with.
Shorter, more compact or mobile fighters like Usyk, but also Carlos Takam and Andy Ruiz, cause Joshua more problems than fighters of similar dimension to his own.
Form, intangibles and best bets
At this point, predicting the best performance Anthony Joshua can deliver is difficult. Form is patchy, a disappointing performance against the modestly equipped Jermaine Franklin in April encouraged further doubt about Joshua’s motivation. The subsequent knockout of Robert Helenius in August reminded all that he retains devastating power but more changes in personnel in his corner across the year also propose uncertainty.
If the ambition is to rebuild or build Joshua the puncher and not continue the confused themes and styles that have diluted his effectiveness since, but perhaps even before, the Ruiz loss, the changing faces in the corner doesn’t bode well.
However, I like Joshua’s activity. Three camps of increasing significance in a calendar year should ensure he is in the groove such as it is and what ever tactics he deploys, a hybrid of boxer-puncher seems most likely, he still remains too good for Otto Wallin.
Consider betting on a Joshua win, 2/7 BETFRED, and a KO win – where the referee counts to 10 – is available at 13/2 with William Hill. Coverage if Joshua opts to box cautiously behind the jab, extending the lessons of the improved performance in the second Usyk fight, and also if he opts to try and take the big Swede out.
Invest modestly.
BOXINGWRITER.CO.UK 
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