Joshua vs. Wallin, Wilder vs. Parker, Bivol vs. Arthur & Dubois vs. Miller Video Highlights & Post Fight Coverage
Joshua Shines Stops Wallin, Parker Shocks Wilder, Kabayel TKOs Makhmudov in Riyadh
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Riyadh, Saudi Arabia (December 24th, 2023)– In the main event of an eight bout Christmas boxing extravaganza at Kingdom Hall, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, former world heavyweight champion Anthony ‘A.J.’ Joshua shined in scoring a lopsided fifth round stoppage of game Otto Wallin, and moved a step closer to fighting either the winner of the Tyson Fury versus Oleksandr Usyk unification bout or top ranked Filip Hrgovic.
Joshua, 27-3 with 24 knockouts, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, had already beaten Wallin the amateurs, and had extensive experience with Wallin’s style due to Wallin’s style as a frequent southpaw sparring partner. Wallin, 24-2 with 14 knockouts, New York City by way of Sweden, tried some head movement and came forward, but got backed up eating A.J.’s straight jabs. Joshua turned Wallin’s face into an ugly mess, and in the end, gave Wallin such a brutal facial beating his corner has to stop it before the massacre continued.
The key to understanding the outcome of this bout was not only A.J.’s vast experience, and training discipline, but also A.J.”s experience with Wallin. Like the Joe Joyce against Zhilei Zhang rematch, Wallin offered nothing in the way of style chance or new approaches in his bout with Joshua. The bout came off as a bad sparring session. Joshua fans and the bookies got the win from their man, and A.J. delivered. Since Fury and Usyk have a two bout deal, A.J. and promoter Eddie hearn may be looking for another stay busy bout in early 2024.
In an undercard shocker between two former world champions which took the bookies to the cleaners, a well-prepared Joseph Parker, 34-3 with 23 knockouts, age 31, Morecambe, United Kingdom by way of New Zealand, shocked former world champion Deontay Wilder, 43-3-1 with 42 knockouts, Tuscaloosa, Alabama. Parker overcame Wilder’s height and reach advantage by avoiding Wilder’s right hand, countering cleverly with his own right hand over the top and to the body, and tying Wilder up to the point of frustration.
Advanced age, and inactivity to the tune of less than one round in 26 months, left an in shape Wilder rusty and with timing which was way off. Wilder’s right hand swung frequently at blank air after a few rounds with his power neutralized. Real Combat Media scored the bout 119-109 for Parker, gifting Wilder only the somewhat close final round with Parker clinching frequently. The judges saw it 120-108, 118-111, 118-110.
Wilder, loser of three of his last four, similar to the end of the career on Muhammad Ali at the same age, could fight on. His right hand now telegraphed, opponents of talent will be lining up, including the winners on this card, Andy Ruiz Jr. (an event commentator at Riyadh) and others if Wilder opts to return on 2024 against big name opposition. Wilder mentioned his gratefulness to his fans, and the fact he was well-invested after the bout, but did not seem to recognize he had not won a round and had finally truly lost to father time.
Undercard Results at Kingdom Hall, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
Filip Hrgovic TKO 1 Mark DeMori, Heavyweights (1:46)
A predictable outcome with 17-0 Croatian contender Hrgovic head punching Australia’s padded record 43-3-2 De Mori into submission on the ropes, turning his back to the action.
Frank Sanchez TKO 7 Junior Fa, Heavyweights (2:42)
24-0 Cuban contender Sanchez got some rounds in before stopping 20-3 New Zealander Fa.
Sanchez retains WBC Continental Americas and WBO NABO heavyweight titles.
Agit Kabayel TKO 4 Arslanbek Makhmudov, Heavyweights (2:03)
14-0 German contender Kabayel dropped 18-1 Russian Makhmudov three times in fourth to score upset. Makhmudov, twitching head frequently, looked a limited mechanical fighter.
Kabayel, EBU European champ, wins NABF and WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight titles.
Daniel Dubois TKO 10 Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller, Heavyweights (2:52)
20-2 former world title challenger Dubois was relentless attacking 26-1-1 Miller, who was not throwing more punches by volume as he had in the past before his suspension of several years. Backing up Miller, solidly outworking him, Dubois finished Miller near bout’s end.
Jai Opetaia TKO 1 Ellis Zorro, Cruiserweights (2:56)
24-0 IBF World Cruiserweight champion Opetaia of Australia exposed UK’s WBO European champion 17-1 Zorro as a limited fighter. One punch knockout, down and out on his back. Worst matchup on the card. Opetaia worthy of better opposition. So horrible a resul the BoxRec did not even list Opetaia’s title defense after the outcome.
Dmitry Bivol Win 12 Lyndon Arthur, Light Heavyweights
22-0 Kyrgyzstan World Light Heavyweight champion Bivol retains WBA and IBO world light heavyweight titles after 13 months inactivity. 23-2 UK warrior Arthur survived a rough beating in round 12 to go the distance. Scoring: 120-107, 120-107, 120-107. Arthur, who trained hard, did well to survive the bout. Real Combat Media scored the bout 120-108.
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