Joshua teams up with Fury's ex-coach who tipped Gypsy King to knock him out

14 November 2023 , 22:52

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Anthony Joshua will need to be at his best to beat Otto Wallin (Image: Kym Illman/Getty Images)

Anthony Joshua has recruited the services of Tyson Fury's former trainer Ben Davison for his upcoming bout with Otto Wallin.

Joshua, 34, is expected to face Wallin, 32, in Saudi Arabia on December 23, as he continues his journey back to the top of boxing. It'll be the former unified world champion's third fight since his crushing rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in August 2022.

Joshua must continue his winning streak if he wants another shot at a world title, but beating Wallin will be difficult. The Swede has suffered just one loss during his 28-fight career... and that was a defeat on points to Joshua's rival Tyson Fury in September 2019.

AJ has asked for Davison's help in a bid to beat Wallin, but the move has raised eyebrows. In January 2018, Davison told Joshua he would get knocked "clean out" by Fury's power.

As reported by the Daily Star, Davison will work with Joshua for his fight with Wallin. It'll be a one-off change of trainer, with the Brit's coach Derrick James approving the plan. James also trains American lightweight Ryan Garcia, who has a fight on December 2.

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Joshua wants to continue working with James after his scrap with Wallin. He recruited James after his second loss to Usyk and has since defeated Jermaine Franklin by unanimous decision and Robert Helenius with a seventh-round knockout.

Ben Davison helped Tyson Fury return to the top of heavyweight boxing (Getty Images)

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But Joshua has recently been working out at Davison's Essex gym to keep sharp. "AJ is with Derrick James, 100 per cent," said Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn last week. "But Ben is a fantastic coach, and I think that has the kind of mind that AJ would tick with.

"AJ is the kind of guy who doesn’t like to be out of camp for too long, and there is a chance he fights in December. So if that’s the case, he wanted these couple of weeks just to sharpen his tools before he heads into camp in Dallas with Derrick."

Davison has worked with some of the biggest names in boxing, such as Josh Taylor and Billy Joe Saunders. Yet he's best known for helping Fury make a sensational comeback in 2018 after three years out of the ring. He helped Fury beat Wallin four years ago.

Yet his previous comments on Joshua are intriguing. Davison told ESPN Fury has "too much skill" for Joshua in December 2018. He added: "Joshua is a big man. He's got height, weight, can punch and can box a bit. He's a dangerous man and a threat. He showed he's got heart but whatever he comes and throws at Tyson, Tyson will have an answer for."

Tom Blow