RIYADH: British heavyweight Anthony Joshua rolled back the years to control Otto Wallin at Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena early Sunday, with the Swede’s corner stopping the battle in the break in between the 5th and 6th rounds.
With soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo sitting ringside together with previous UFC champ Conor McGregor, the 2 heavyweights got in the ring well after 2 a.m. regional time (2300 GMT) and Joshua instantly got to work, landing jabs and directly right-hand men on the southpaw Swede.
Joshua, a two-time unified heavyweight champ, determined the battle from the centre of the ring, requiring his challenger to circle on the outdoors where Wallin had a hard time to land any offense.
Joshua, who two times beat Wallin on points as an amateur, hurt Wallin in the 5th, tossing thunderous hooks with both hands to leave the Swede unstable on his feet as he headed back to his corner, and he never ever reappeared as his group informed the referee he might not continue.
Improving his record to 27 wins and 3 losses, the 34-year-old Joshua stated he was happy with the outcome however decreased to state that he was back to his old self.
“I appreciate Otto. Throughout the entire accumulation, I was informing everybody I require to concentrate on the male in front of me, since I appreciate what he’s giving the table,” Joshua stated in the ring after the battle.
“Not a lot a throwback battle. Simply another day in the workplace.”
The interruption was the very first in Wallin’s expert profession and just his 2nd loss, following a defeat by Tyson Fury in September 2019.
In the co-main occasion, New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker placed on a fantastic disciplined display screen to manage a mind-blowing consentaneous choice win over American Deontay Wilder.