Anthony Joshua returns to the ring to face off against Otto Wallin, a final step before a huge 2024 fight with Deontay Wilder, in our premier boxing attraction of the weekend taking place this Saturday, December 23, from the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Joshua has won two in a row since a pair of defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, and Wallin is as tough as they come as an underdog that could potentially derail the mega fight.
Boxing odds have Joshua a -360 favorite and Wallin is a +270 underdog. Here are my free betting picks for Joshua vs. Wallin from Riyadh.
Joshua vs Wallin odds
| Method of victory | Anthony Joshua | Otto Wallin |
|---|---|---|
| Win outright | -380 | +285 |
| Win by KO/TKO/DQ | +155 | +650 |
| Win by points or decision | +125 | +600 |
| Draw | +1,800 | +1,800 |
Odds courtesy of DraftKings as of December 23, 2023.
Joshua vs Wallin betting predictions
Picks made on December 23. Click on each pick to jump to the full analysis.
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Joshua vs Wallin boxing prediction and best bet
Prediction: Anthony Joshua ML
Though Joshua tends to get a bad rap due to his inconsistencies and questionable mental fortitude, he’s compiled a strong resume and continues to test himself. The Wallin fight will be his third bout of the year and the most challenging on paper by far. Wallin is as tough as it gets, supremely motivated, and an awkward southpaw who gave Tyson Fury a scare in 2019.
Joshua has all the tools to be a great heavyweight but has transitioned from a fearless blaster to a conservative power boxer following his shock loss to Andy Ruiz. That said, Joshua’s explosive power and quick delivery may serve him well here as Wallin relies more on volume than power. Wallin is going to take the fight to Joshua and try to unnerve him early on, but the Swede might be put on the back foot or the canvas if he tries to pitter-pat and stays in Joshua’s range.
Despite a horrid cut, Fury beat him by boxing smart and landing big shots on Wallin to sap him of his resolve. Joshua tends to get stronger as the fight progresses, and the added motivation of securing a March 2024 showdown with Wilder means he may be more focused than normal.
Wallin could be a handful for Joshua initially, but he’ll squander his momentum by gassing out and ending up an open book for the ex-champ.
Prediction: Anthony Joshua moneyline (-360 at DraftKings)
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Best bet: Anthony Joshua to win in Rounds 7-12
Wallin’s lack of punching power and poor stamina all but ensure Joshua should get past him. We’ve seen Wallin let fights get more competitive than they should, such as his bouts with Dominic Breazeale and Murat Gassiev because he fades halfway through. That’s precisely when Joshua gets dangerous, especially if he hasn’t been troubled early on.
Joshua will be encouraged as he visibly sees Wallin slow down, especially as his speed and heavier hands should sap him further. By the seventh round, Wallin won’t have enough to transition between offense and defense, and he’ll be a sitting duck for Joshua in the later rounds.
Joshua won't leave anything to chance and will get Wallin out the first chance he gets. Most of Joshua’s stoppages occur in the second half of fights, so I’m going with Joshua to score a stoppage from Round 7 onward.
Prediction: Anthony Joshua to win in Rounds 7-12 (+300 at DraftKings)
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Joshua vs Wallin betting preview
Joshua returns to the ring for the third time this year and looks to continue his rebuilding process after a pair of losses to Usyk. His wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius featured both the tepidness that has defined his later career and the explosiveness that had many thinking he was the future king of the division. Old amateur rival Wallin is his sternest test since Usyk.
Wallin is best known for his rugged performance in defeat against Fury and has remained a durable contender in the years that followed. An awkward southpaw with a taxing style for himself and his opponents, Wallin’s grinding technique has seen him rise above the heavyweight journeymen, but not quite to the levels of the true elite.
Wallin believes he can exploit Joshua’s fragile psyche with his pressure and confidence. Joshua’s slip-ups have happened at the highest level of the division and against opponents with better overall abilities than the plodding southpaw. While this is the first professional meeting between them, they faced off in the amateurs twice with Joshua winning both times.
