How it unfolded
That was a pretty special night. Here’s the results from the main card
- Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via fifth-round KO.
- Joseph Parker def. Deontay Wilder via unanimous decision.
- Dmitry Bivol def. Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision.
- Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller via 10th-round TKO.
- Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov via fourth-round TKO.
- Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro via first-round KO.
- Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Mori via first-round TKO.
- Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa via seventh-round TKO.
‘This guy is about championships’
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, speaking to TNT Sports: “I believe this Anthony Joshua is the best heavyweight in the world. That was a punch-perfect performance tonight. A stunning performance. One that says he is back. With this mindset in this team, I think he is unbeatable. 2024 will be massive for him.
“It was a tough decision between the championship and Wilder. We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight, that’s OK, it happens in boxing. Maybe it is a blessing because this guy is about championships. He wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. It will be Filip Hrgovic against AJ for the world title.
“I am so happy to see him smiling and performing so well. He is a dangerous man when he is in that kind of mood. 2024 is going to be very interesting, every heavyweight should be on notice – he is back.”
‘I could rip him apart right now’
Rip him apart verbally, of course. Although…
Anyway, here’s what Anthony Joshua had to say after tonight’s encounter.
Speaking to DAZN, AJ said: “I can’t rate my performance. Ben Davison, my performance team, I’ll leave it up to them.
“Tonight was just another fight. I respect Otto. Not so much a throwback fight, just another day in the office. Victory by any means. Like Otto, you want to do whatever it takes to be victorious. That’s all I want to be.”
Asked about Wilder’s loss, he added: “I wasn’t watching. I just focused on myself. I know how important it was for me. I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back. Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.”