The world's best heavyweights feature highly on Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder Saudi card with six giants from top ten in action

19/12/2023 13:30

Heavyweight boxing will take centre stage as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder headline in Saudi Arabia this week.

The ‘Day of Reckoning’, as it is being billed, is almost upon us with six of the top ten heavyweights in the world, according to Ring Magazine, all in action.

Of course AJ (Ring #3) and Wilder (Ring #2) are the main attractions, but both of their opponents also sit within the top ten.

Joshua will face Otto Wallin (Ring #10) while Wilder is set to take on Joseph Parker (Ring #5).

Also in action are unbeaten contenders Filip Hrgovic (Ring #6) and Frank Sanchez (Ring #9).

Hrgovic will meet Mark De Mori and Sanchez will face Junior Fa.

#10 – Otto Wallin
Age: 33
Record: 26-1 (14 KOs)

Although he is best known for his sole career defeat, Wallin has won six fights since. The Swede gave Tyson Fury a tougher fight than expected in 2019 and famously cut him before ultimately losing on points. In September, he upset Murat Gassiev in his best victory to date, putting him on a high heading into the Joshua fight.

#9 – Frank Sanchez
Age: 31
Record: 23-0 (16 KOs)

A rising contender, Sanchez remains unbeaten to date. The Cuban’s standout victory thus far came over Efe Ajagba in 2021, though he has sadly not stepped up again since. Sanchez will face Fa on Saturday night.

#8 – Joe Joyce
Age: 38
Record: 15-2 (14 KOs)

Until this year, Joyce sat in the top five of this list. His victories over Daniel Dubois and Parker put him in good stead heading into 2023. However, things all came crashing down for the Juggernaut as he’s been stopped twice by Zhilei Zhang this year.

#7 – Jared Anderson
Age: 24
Record: 16-0 (15 KOs)

Anderson is on the rise as an unbeaten American contender. Earlier this year he outpointed Charles Martin in his best victory to date.

#6 – Filip Hrgovic
Age: 31
Record: 16-0 (13 KOs)

Awaiting a world title shot, Hrgovic is the IBF mandatory challenger for Oleksandr Usyk. He earned this position by beating Zhang in 2022, though the decision victory was controversial. Hrgovic will face De Mori on Saturday night.

#5 – Joseph Parker
Age: 31
Record: 33-3 (23 KOs)

Once the WBO heavyweight world champion, Parker has now been a long-standing figure in the heavyweight top ten. His best victory remains the close decision win over Andy Ruiz that saw him become champion back in 2017. Parker heads into the Wilder clash on a three-right win streak since his most recent defeat to Joyce.

#4 – Zhilei Zhang
Age: 40
Record: 26-1-1 (21 KOs)

After his contentious defeat to Hrgovic, Zhang refused to give up on his career and is now on a high having stopped Joyce twice this year. He sits as Usyk’s WBO mandatory challenger awaiting a world title shot after Hrgovic gets his.

#3 – Anthony Joshua
Age: 34
Record: 26-3 (23 KOs)

After losing his world titles to Usyk, former unified world champion Joshua has beaten Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius this year. His best wins include Wladimir Klitschko, Alexander Povetkin, Ruiz and Parker.

#2 – Deontay Wilder
Age: 38
Record: 43-2-1 (42 KOs)

KO king Wilder has fought just one round since his trilogy with Fury, which saw him lose his WBC world title. He flattened Helenius last year and will hoping to do the same to Parker in order to set up a meeting with AJ, which could happen as early as March.

#1 – Tyson Fury
Age: 35
Record: 34-0-1 (24 KOs)

Fury has had a strange year. He ends 2023 still reigning as the WBC heavyweight world champion, but saw his stock fall after suffering a humiliating knockdown against debutant Francis Ngannou in a bout he only just about won. All of this will be quickly forgotten though if he beats Usyk to become undisputed world champion on February 17.

Ring Champion – Oleksandr Usyk
Age: 36
Record: 21-0 (14 KOs)

Usyk was previously the undisputed cruiserweight world champion before setting his sights on the heavyweight crown. He won the Ring belt in his rematch with Anthony Joshua after Fury vacated it during a brief retirement last year. On February 17, Usyk’s chance to make history arrives.

talkSPORT will bring you live and exclusive radio commentary as Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder face a ‘Day of Reckoning’ in an historic boxing show in Saudi Arabia on Saturday night.