Riyadh Season - Day of Reckoning: Odds, Preview and Betting Tips
There are no fewer than three former heavyweight world champions in action across the co-main events and here at betting.bet we’ll preview both fights, providing odds and free bet offers courtesy of our betting partners at DAZN Bet.
There’s a huge night of boxing in Saudi Arabia on December 23rd with Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder amongst the fighters booked on a stacked card billed as ‘Day of Reckoning’. There are eight bouts scheduled to take place at the Kingdom Arena, Riyadh, including six mouth-watering heavyweight fights as well as world title fights at both light-heavyweight and cruiserweight. There are no fewer than three former heavyweight world champions in action across the co-main events and here at betting.bet we’ll preview both fights, providing odds and free bet offers courtesy of our betting partners at DAZN Bet.
Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin
Two-time former heavyweight champion, Anthony Joshua fights for the third time this year as he takes on dangerous southpaw, Otto Wallin in the co-main event.
AJ has had to undergo a rebuilding job following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. Joshua was unconvincing as he laboured to a unanimous points win over Jermaine Franklin at London’s O2 Arena in April before earning a seventh-round knockout win over Robert Helenius back at the same venue in August.
Should Anthony Joshua win in Riyadh later this month it could set up an unforgettable 2024 for the 34-year-old. Rumours over potential super-fights against Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury continue to gather pace whilst a rematch against Usyk could be on the cards further down the line.
However, Otto Wallin should not be underestimated. The Swede has lost just one of his previous 28 fights; suffering a UD loss at the hands of Tyson Fury. Wallin caused Fury a serious problem in Las Vegas back in 2019 and was arguably unfortunate not to defeat the Gypsy King. Since that solitary professional defeat at the hands of Tyson Fury, Wallin has earned six successive wins, including notable victories over Dominic Breazeale and Murat Gassiev.
Tale of the Tape: Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin
| Anthony Joshua | Otto Wallin |
|---|---|
| Fight odds: 2/9 | Fight odds: 3/1 |
| Age: 34 | Age: 33 |
| Record: 29 fights; 26 wins (23 KO), 3 losses | Record: 28 fights; 26 wins (14 KO), 1 loss, 1 no contest |
| Height: 1.98m (6ft 6in) | Height: 1.97m (6ft 5.5in) |
| Reach: 208cm (82in) | Reach: 198cm (78in) |
Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker
The other co-main event of the evening sees to former heavyweight world champions go toe-to-toe as former WBC champion, Deontay Wilder takes on former WBO king, Joseph Parker.
Deontay Wilder has been relatively inactive in recent years and returns to the ring for the first time since earning a clinical first round knockout victory over Robert Helenius in October 2022. The Bronze Bomber has fought just three times in the past four years, losing twice to Tyson Fury before that victory over Helenius. In contrast, Wilder fought eight times in the four previous years.
Like Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder knows a win on December 23rd will set him up for a huge 2024. Wilder and Joshua should finally meet in the right whilst there’s also speculation of a possible fight against former champion, Andy Ruiz Jr. A fourth fight against Tyson Fury is also not out of the question.
Wilder cannot afford to overlook a Joseph Parker that arrives back in Saudi Arabia for the second time in eight weeks. As he attempts to re-establish himself as a top tier heavyweight, Parker has fought three times already in 2023, earning wins over Jack Massey and Faiga Opelu before stopping Simon Kean inside three rounds at the Kingdom Arena on October 28th.
Deontay Wilder is undoubtedly a step-up for Parker and it remains to be seen if a man once regarded as having excellent punch resistance can survive ‘that’ Wilder right hand.
Tale of the Tape: Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker
| Deontay Wilder | Joseph Parker |
|---|---|
| Fight odds 2/13 | Fight odds: 19/5 |
| Age: 38 | Age: 31 |
| Record: 46 fights; 43 wins (42 KO), 2 losses, 1 draw | Record: 36 fights; 33 wins (23 KO), 3 losses |
| Height: 2.01m (6ft 7in) | Height: 1.93m (6ft 4in) |
| Reach: 211cm (83in) | Reach: 193cm (76in) |
The Day of Reckoning Undercard
Whilst AJ versus Wallin and Wilder versus Parker justifiably command the event’s co-main event status, there are some huge bouts taking place on the undercard. In fact, several of the scheduled bouts could have headlined an event of their own.
Undefeated WBA (Super) light-heavyweight champion, Dimitri Bivol will defend his title against challenger, Lyndon Arthur. Bivol’s stock is at an all-time high following a superb 2022. The 32-year-old became the first person since Floyd Mayweather to defeat four-weight world champion, Canelo Alvarez before ending Gilberto Ramirez’s 44-fight unbeaten record in Abu Dhabi last November.
There’s also a world title on the line in the cruiserweight division as unbeaten Australian, Jai Opetaia defends his IBF crown against British challenger, Ellis Zorro.
Daniel Dubois hopes to bounce back from his disappointing defeat to unified heavyweight world champion, Oleksandr Usyk but he faces a tough assignment against unbeaten American, Jarrell Miller. ‘Big Baby’ Miller continues to rebuild his career following a failed drugs test and subsequent ban ahead of what would’ve been a first world title fight against Anthony Joshua in 2019. The winner of this heavyweight bout will thrust themselves immediately back into contention for another world title fight.
The European heavyweight title is on the line as current champion, Agit Kabayel and Arslanbek Makhmudov put their respective unbeaten records on the line. Makhmudov is back in Riyadh just eight weeks on from a comfortable first-round win over Junior Anthony Wright on the Fury versus Ngannou undercard and is the red-hot favourite to become the new European champion.
Unbeaten Croatian, Filip Hrgovic should prove too strong for 41-year-old Mark de Mori whilst the opening bout of the evening should see Frank Sanchez continue his rise up the heavyweight ranks when he takes on New Zealander, Junior Fa.
Where Can I Watch The Day of Reckoning?
Riyadh Season’s ‘Day of Reckoning’ is available globally on streaming platform, DAZN. The event has been confirmed as pay-per-view in the UK at a cost of £19.99. Action is set to get underway at 7pm (UK time).
Riyadh Season: Day of Reckoning Fight Card and Odds
- Anthony Joshua (2/9) v Otto Wallin (3/1)
- Deontay Wilder (2/13) v Joseph Parker (19/5)
- Dmitry Bivol (1/16) v Lyndon Arthur (7/1)(for WBA light heavyweight title)
- Daniel Dubois (1/5) v Jarrell Miller (16/5)
- Jai Opetaia (1/20) v Ellis Zorro (15/2)(for IBF cruiserweight title)
- Filip Hrgovic (1/50) v Mark de Mori (10/1)
- Arslanbek Makhmudov (1/11) v Agit Kabayel (11/2) (for European heavyweight title)
- Frank Sanchez (1/10) v Junior Fa (7/1)
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