John Fury, father of WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, believes Anthong Joshua’s handlers made a big mistake in agreeing to face Otto Wallin.
The bout headlines the big ‘Day of Reckoning’ event, which takes place on Saturday in Saudi Arabia.
Back in 2019, Wallin lost a tough twelve round decision to Tyson Fury.
That fight remains as the only blemish on Wallin’s record. During the contest, Fury sustained two severe cuts, from legal punches, and there was some concern about the fight being stopped by the ringside doctor.
The fight with Wallin is set down as the final step before a slated showdown with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in a big event being planned for the first quarter of 2024. Wilder has to win his bout, in the co-feature, with former beltholder Joseph Parker.
In breaking down the upcoming fight between the British star and Wallin, Fury anticipates a very tough fight that Joshua could actually lose.
“I’m not so sure again about the people around him, the managing side, picking a man like Wallin. He would give anybody a problem, he’s a 6ft 5in southpaw, a good game kid and has one of the best trainers in the world in his corner in Joey Gamache,” John Fury told Boxing Social.
“At the end of the day, it’s an uphill battle let’s put it that way. Can AJ pull it off? He can. But he’s going to get tested like he has never been tested before. I think if I was looking after him I wouldn’t have picked Wallin, no. When AJ is like he is, he’s on a comeback trail, he’s had a few setbacks, you want a confidence builder. And this ain’t a confidence builder, this is a bloody hard fight.”