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Carl Froch claims Otto Wallin has a chance of shocking 'negative' Anthony Joshua but Ricky Hatton backs the 'powerful' Brit to win by KO… while one ex-champion backs Deontay Wilder to leave Joseph Parker UNCONSCIOUS in Day of Reckoning predictions

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The final heavyweight boxing bonanza of the year is upon us as Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker all feature in the Day of Reckoning clash.

Saudi Arabia is continuing to dominate the world boxing stage by hosting glamorous events in the Middle East, with the latest showdown another indication of their ambitions to become a major sporting hub.

Joshua will have to overcome Wallin, while Wilder will have to find a way past former champion Parker in order to set-up an expected mouth-watering clash between the heavy-hitting duo.

But who does the world of boxing think will come out on top in Riyadh as Christmas beckons with the heavyweight division being given a much-needed festive rankings update?

Mail Sport covers the world of boxing predictions ahead of Saturday’s Saudi showdown.

Anthony Joshua hopes to take a step back towards becoming world champion when he fights Otto Wallin

Anthony Joshua hopes to take a step back towards becoming world champion when he fights Otto Wallin

Deontay Wilder is back in the ring as he goes up against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia

Deontay Wilder is back in the ring as he goes up against Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia

Predictions: AJ v Wallin 

One of the biggest talking points coming into this clash is that the Englishman has changed coaching partners again and this time joining forces with Tyson Fury’s former coach Ben Davison.

Joshua is attempting to get his heavyweight title ambitions back on track and inflict a second career defeat on Wallin. Meanwhile, the Swede is determined to make his chance count against the former world champion. 

The world of boxing has given their predictions, with many expecting Joshua to reign victorious in Saudi Arabia.

EVANDER HOLYFIELD – JOSHUA WIN

Boxing icon Evander Holyfield also expects Joshua to win but warned against the threat of Wallin, adding: ‘Well, [Joshua] got the range. It appears to me that when people don’t pressure him, he gets his shots off then he wins. 

‘I don’t think he stands pressure real well, but if it’s a distance fight and they keep their measurements, he’s going to outpoint him.’

CARL FRAMPTON – JOSHUA WIN 

Former two-weight world champion Carl Frampton believes it will be a closer contest than others have predicted and explained: ‘This is massive. Wallin is a very good fighter. He gave Fury a bit of scare and one of the reasons why you know he’s a tough fight is because none of the other heavyweights want to mention him.

‘It’s probably a fight that Joshua thinks he should be winning if he wants to compete with people like Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury, or Usyk again at some point.

‘Although it’s far from an easy fight, it’s still a fight that AJ should win if he wants to be competing with the very, very top guys.’

RICKY HATTON – JOSHUA WIN 

British boxing icon Ricky Hatton described it as a ‘great fight’ but also believes Joshua will have too much for Wallin to handle.

‘This is a great fight for AJ. Wallin is a tough opponent and just what AJ needs if he is to face Wilder or Fury down the line.

‘Wallin has only lost the once and that was on points to Fury when he caused Tyson all sorts of problems. I think Wallin will be hungry for the rematch and will be looking to make a statement, but I don’t see him beating AJ. I think AJ will be too powerful for him and he will stop Wallin in the latter rounds.’

Ricky Hatton believes 'dangerous' Anthony Joshua will stop Wallin in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

Ricky Hatton believes ‘dangerous’ Anthony Joshua will stop Wallin in Saudi Arabia on Saturday

CARL FROCH – JOSHUA WIN 

Former British superstar boxer Carl Froch has given Wallin a chance of beating Joshua. ‘I do think Otto Wallin has got a chance against Joshua.

‘AJ is quite negative and is a bit nervous. If Otto Wallin believes in himself and he sticks it on Anthony Joshua, it could be game over for AJ. If he doesn’t rise to the occasion and meet Wallin with aggression, then this could go wrong.

‘I think Wallin does have a chance, I make AJ a 65/35 favourite, but Wallin has definitely got a chance, so don’t rule anything out, this could be a massive upset,’ he said.

Carl Froch questioning Joshua's mentality heading into the fight but expects him to beat Wallin

Carl Froch questioning Joshua’s mentality heading into the fight but expects him to beat Wallin

DEONTAY WILDER – JOSHUA WIN

Joshua’s nemesis is certain Joshua will come through against Wallin – he better hope that’s the case as it will mean the pair of rivals should set up their highly-anticipated fight next year. 

‘I like that fight between those two guys and may the best man win,’ Wilder said, speaking to talkSPORT.

‘I see him [Joshua] winning this fight if his mind is in the right place.

‘If he goes in there with self-confidence and the will to win and the motion to go and do what he’s got to do and get the job done then I see him winning that fight. 

‘But if he goes in there thinking about what’s next, especially when it’s pertaining to me or any other thing outside of that then he might be finding himself in some big trouble.’

EDDIE HEARN – JOSHUA WIN

There’s no surprise that Joshua’s own promoter Eddie Hearn believes he will beat the Swede – especially given the lucrative rewards that lie in wait should he pull it off. 

‘When we say he has an issue with a southpaw, he had an issue with Oleksandr Usyk, who is a pound-for-pound number one, maybe,’ he said.

‘But Wallin’s good. They’ve sparred rounds before. AJ beat him in the amateurs, it’s a long time ago, yeah, but really, ideally, you don’t really want to be fighting a southpaw, but you should be dealing with Otto Wallin.

‘And we have enough faith in AJ’s ability to take that fight, win that fight, but it will be tricky. And he has to be aggressive in that fight. I believe he will stop him.’ 

Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn believes his man will have enough to beat Wallin

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes his man will have enough to beat Wallin

JARRELL MILLER – WALLIN WIN

‘I feel honestly that AJ might have made a mistake with picking Otto Wallin.

‘Even though Otto Wallin is not a one-punch knockout kind of guy, he is durable, he comes to fight, he is not a quitter and it is going to be a tough fight for AJ. I don’t think that it is going to be easy, at all.’

‘The mental mind state that AJ has, is he going to hold up?

‘When he fights in the UK, he has a little more oomph in his step a little bit, but when he fights outside of the UK, we don’t get the same fiery person, the playing ground is going to be a little bit more even out in Saudi.

‘I wish all of the luck to Otto Wallin, I want to really be the one to knock out AJ, but may the best man win, it is what it is.’

Predictions: Wilder v Parker 

JOHN FURY – WILDER WIN 

John Fury has worked with Parker during training camps before but warned that the American’s power will be too much to handle : ‘I don’t know how much Wilder’s got left. 

‘If Joe Parker can get it on him and force him to fight off the back foot, he’ll make a fight of it. But I’ve got to say Wilder’s power, there’s only one man who can take it, and that’s Tyson The Gypsy King. 

‘Joe can grow a pair and throw everything at him but the kitchen sink, and he’s going to have to have a lot of movement, a lot of awkwardness and a lot of game-ness… But I’ve got to say Wilder,’ he added.

John Fury has worked with Parker before but expects Wilder to reign victorious in Saudi Arabia

John Fury has worked with Parker before but expects Wilder to reign victorious in Saudi Arabia

DERECK CHISORA – WILDER WIN 

Dereck Chisora expects the fight to be over quicker and backed Wilder to get the knockout. 

He told Boxing Social: ‘Deontay, in the beginning – one, two, three, four, five – he’s gonna be losing on points and then he’s gonna get his banger. He’ll get the knockout.’

CARL FROCH – WILDER WIN 

Carl Froch similarly predicts Wilder to stop Parker, telling TNT Sports: For me, Deontay Wilder will render Joseph Parker unconscious. 

‘I’m not going to say what round, but he wins by a knockout.’

FABIO WARDLEY – CAN’T CALL IT 

British heavyweight title holder Fabio Wardley also told the channel: ‘I think for the very early part of the fight it’s going to be a bit of a shoot out. 

‘I think Parker’s going to put the pressure on him and really stick it to him. But I think as the fight goes on, I think that right hand, the power shots from Wilder, will start to land and will have an effect.’

British heavyweight title holder Fabio Wardley also expects Wilder to beat Parker

British heavyweight title holder Fabio Wardley also expects Wilder to beat Parker

GEORGE GROVES – WILDER WIN 

Groves also harped over Parker’s boxing ability on TNT Sports but explained Wilder should have enough to stop the 31-year-old: ‘I think Parker is a very good boxer, a really strong guy. 

‘But maybe with a couple more miles on the clock, I think Wilder is in good form. He hasn’t had a lot of action, but I think Wilder wins. I think he might even stop Parker.’

EDDIE HEARN – CAN’T CALL IT 

‘I don’t really rate Deontay Wilder,’ he told talkSPORT.

‘I rate his power. But if you took his power away, Joseph Parker would beat him all day long. He can bit a bit awkward, Joseph Parker. If he stands still and holds his feet, he could be a sitting duck, but if Andy Lee can get him moving, fainting… he will win rounds.

‘Wilder has had half a round in two years, and you watch him on the pads last night and everything is just about power. He looks for it and looks for it and looks for it, and if it doesn’t come, it is difficult to win rounds.

‘But he has the equaliser. He could lose to any heavyweight in the top ten but he could also beat any heavyweight in the top ten because he has the power to turn your lights off with one punch.’