11 November 2023 , 23:08
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Anthony Joshua is set to face former Tyson Fury opponent Otto Wallin in Saudia Arabia two days before Christmas.
Joshua will take on the Swede on the same card as Deontay Wilder's clash with Joseph Parker - with the two winners set to meet in a huge heavyweight showdown next year. Joshua and Wilder will be joined on the card in Riyadh by Daniel Dubois who will return to the ring for the first time since he was stopped by Oleksandr Usyk in August.
The December 23 date had been reserved for Fury's undisputed showdown with Usyk but the Brit has been forced to delay the bout after being dropped and almost stopped by former UFC champion Francis Ngannou last month. Joshua and Wilder have stepped in to fill the void in the hope of avoiding defeat to set up their long-awaited meeting in 2024.
Joshua has fought twice this year, outpointing Jermaine Franklin in April before stopping Robert Helenius in August. He had been due to take on Dillian Whyte in a rematch before his rival failed a drugs test and Helenius stepped in. The Finn also failed a test which had been conducted hours before he was knocked out.
Wallin gave Fury a tough examination in 2019, cutting the Brit over his eye before succumbing to defeat on points. He has since won six fights in succession to set up a shot at former world champion Joshua.
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Wilder, meanwhile, has not fought for over a year after also stopping Helenius. He has long been linked with a fight with Joshua but the pair have been unable to agree terms after a tentative deal to host the fight in Saudi Arabia fell through.
Parker was in action on the Fury vs Usyk undercard, stopping Simon Kean in the third round. Parker lost his world title to Joshua in 2018. He has won nine of his 11 fights since, losing to Dillian Whyte and Joe Joyce.