“I absolutely believe I will win”
Published 2023-11-15 19.52
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Otto Wallin, 32, gets his super match.
The Swedish boxer will face superstar Anthony Joshua, 34, on December 23.
– It almost doesn’t get bigger than this, says Wallin to Sportbladet.
Sundsvallssonen is in the form of his life. Otto Wallin is about six weeks away from the biggest victory of his career when he won against Murat Gassiev earlier this fall.
His hope was that that victory would lead to something much bigger.
It has done that.
Last Monday he received the offer to face one of the boxing world’s biggest stars in Anthony Joshua. Now it’s done and on December 23 they will enter the ring in Riyadh.
– Now I don’t know what people think, but I suppose I’m a pretty big underdog. Not for myself, of course, but for the great mass. But I feel very confident and I just had the best win of my career. It wasn’t even two months ago so it feels great and I’ve had good momentum. I absolutely believe that I will win, says Wallin on the phone from London.
previousfullscreennextAnthony Joshua and Otto Wallin at Wednesday’s press conference.
1 / 2Foto: Tom Dulat / Getty Images
”Haft sin peak”
Joshua is one of the sport’s big fixed stars and is a multiple world heavyweight champion. But according to Wallin, the Briton is on the way down in his career.
– It is clear that Joshua is absolutely one of the best boxers in the world. But I think he’s probably had his peak and he hasn’t looked as good, he’s lost himself a bit in style and confidence. He’s having a bit of a hard time right now and I think it’s perfect timing for me to meet him, says Wallin.
Several other big names fight at the same gala, including Deontay Wilder. The American meets Joseph Parker and Wilder wins his match while Joshua defeats Wallin, it could open up a fight between the stars next year.
Significant victory
But a victory for Otto Wallin would also mean a lot.
It would mean everything.
– It opens up everything and takes me to a completely different level than I am today. It opens all the doors for me really if I win this match. Then it can be anything.
What do you want most?
– Then I want to box for a WC title. There is talk that Tyson Fury and Usyk (Oleksandr) will meet. If they meet in February and I win against Joshua, I could very well be in luck to face one of them.
“Biggest yet”
Otto Wallin has only lost once in his pro career, on points to Tyson Fury in 2019, and is 26–1 overall in his career.
But he ranks the match against Joshua as bigger than the one against heavyweight champion Fury.
– It is the biggest so far. Nobody knew about me when I faced Fury and I was a big underdog. Now I have six wins since I met Fury and especially the last fight in Turkey was very good. It’s the one that gets me this match. It feels very good and I have been waiting for this for a long time.
Plenty of money
In addition to the sporting aspect, a fight of this dignity brings a lot of bang for the buck. But Wallin will not get as much as Joshua.
– I don’t know how much he earns, but he probably gets ten times more than me. That’s what I’m guessing, maybe eight times more I would think. But I get paid well for this match and if I win it will be double in any case, says Wallin.
You don’t want to go into how much it involves?
– No I do not want to. But it’s pretty good money.
For Wallin, there is no rest and no peace in the future. On Thursday, an early trip back to New York awaits and then it will be more or less directly from the airport to the training room.
– I’ll probably sleep for an hour, then I’ll go to the gym and then we’ll go all out.
full screen Otto Wallin meets Anthony Joshua on December 23 Photo: Joel Marklund / Bildbyrån
2023-11-15 22:52:30
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