What the hell is AJ doing?
Why would he take on a tricky southpaw when he has mega dollars waiting on him in a Deontay Wilder fight?
What if he gets beat by Otto Wallin this Saturday night? Where will he go from here?
Fans and media members have normally asked one of the questions above. Simply put, they can’t understand why Anthony Joshua is risking a gigantic payday and another loss on his record by taking on a highly-ranked contender like Otto Wallin.
Some call it a suicide mission, others believe it’s a way for Joshua to prove that he’s back to being the great fighter he once was. According to Derek Chisora, however, Wallin is being overhyped.
By and large, Wallin’s claim to fame came in 2019 when he gave Tyson Fury all he could handle before losing a fairly close decision. Since then, the 33-year-old has racked up six victories in a row.
During his streak, most of his opponents were nondescript. Sure Dominic Breazeale had somewhat of a name but he was far past his prime and hasn’t fought since. But just when fans began poking fun at his resume, Wallin got the boost he needed.
In late September, the New York resident picked up the biggest win of his career, a split decision over former unified cruiserweight champ, Murat Gassiev. It was the type of win Wallin believed he needed to put himself back on the map. Now, seemingly out of nowhere, he’ll be asked to keep things going.
Trepidation, at least for Chisora, hasn’t set in. From his point of view, Wallin is a decent fighter, nothing more, nothing less.
“It’s a great fight for AJ,” Chisora told Fight Hub TV. “He doesn’t do great with southpaws but this time he’s figured it out, so knockout for AJ in four or five.”