The ‘Day of Reckoning’ is upon us as Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua headline a blockbuster boxing event that will feature six heavyweight bouts on Sunday morning [AEDT].
Wilder is set for his fight in over a year as he takes on former world champ Joseph Parker in the co-main event before Joshua battles Otto Wallin in the main event.
The expectation is that Wilder and Joshua will both have their hand raised to set up a long-anticipated fight between the pair.
However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has poured cold water on the idea that Wilder is guaranteed to get past Parker on Sunday, telling FightHype that the American “better be switched on” or risk a stunning loss.
In fact, in comments on DAZN Boxing, Hearn went on to say that while Wilder is capable of “beating every heavyweight in the top-10” he is capable of losing to all of them.
Boxing: Day of Reckoning SUN 24th DEC 3AM AEDT | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports
“I heard him say a quote earlier going, ‘AJ is a manufactured champion, I’m a true champion’. This guy has never beaten an elite heavyweight,” Hearn said.
“He won the title from Bermane Stiverne. He defended it against Bermane Stiverne. He defended it against Dominic Breazeale. He lost three times to Tyson Fury.
“He is capable of losing to any heavyweight in the top-10. He is also capable of beating every heavyweight in the top-10. This is a dangerous, dangerous man… but I don’t rate him, honestly.”
Wilder claimed earlier in the week in an interview with BBC that Joshua and Hearn are both “intimidated” by him and that is why the fight has still not taken place.
In response, Hearn emphatically denied that was the case, declaring both he and Joshua have “always wanted the fight”.
“He’s not the smartest because if he was he’d understand that when you talk about a cash cow, really you’re saying we want to make money,” Hearn said in an interview with Boxing News.
“The way we make money is we make AJ against Wilder. We make a fortune in that fight.”
Wilder told Sky Sports a fight against Joshua would be “the biggest in the world” and now it is finally a distinct possibility of happening depending on how Sunday’s blockbuster card shakes out.
“Now the moment has come where it’s the closest that it’s ever been in history right now,” Wilder said.
“The closest that it’s ever been. I’m excited to say that. I’m not 100 percent sure that it’s going to happen. There’s a lot of things that has gone on, a lot of things that has been done.
“You can’t be 100 percent until that bell rings and that first punch has been thrown.”
Joshua is coming off back-to-back wins over Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin, both coming in dominant fashion, but had lost two-straight fights to Oleksandr Usyk before then.
It is why Wilder believes Joshua “seems to have lost the respect he once had”.
“Now, with a few losses under his belt, everyone sees him as beatable and doesn’t hesitate to talk smack,” Wilder told The Daily Mail.
“That must be tough for him, going from widely respected to this. When I’m around him, I sense it.”
HOW TO WATCH
Boxing fans in Australia will be able to tune into the card via Main Event on Kayo Sports
START TIME
The Day of Reckoning card kicks off at 3am (AEDT).
WHEN IS IT
The biggest boxing card this year is on December 24.
BETTING ODDS (VIA SPORTSBET)
In the main event, Anthony Joshua is a $1.27 favourite against Otto Wallin, who is paying $4.25.
Deontay Wilder is paying $1.17 to beat Joseph Parker, with the Kiwi a $5.50 outsider.
As for the Aussies in action on the card, cruiserweight sensation Jai Opetaia is priced at $1.06 to beat $12.50 underdog Ellis Zorro.
Australian heavyweight Mark De Mori is the biggest outsider on the card as he’s paying a whopping $19 to beat Filip Hrgovic, who is a $1.02 favourite.
FULL FIGHT CARD
Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin — heavyweight
Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker — heavyweight
Filip Hrgovic v Mark De Mori (AUS) — heavyweight
Dmitry Bivol v Lyndon Arthur — for WBA light heavyweight title
Jai Opetaia (AUS) v Ellis Zorro — cruiserweight
Daniel Dubois v Jarrell Miller — heavyweight
Arslanbek Makhmudov v Agit Kabayel — heavyweight
Frank Sanchez v Junior Fa — heavyweight