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Boxing

Otto Wallin eager to face Anthony Joshua next: 'I strongly believe I would be the best option'

Otto Wallin eager to face Anthony Joshua next: 'I strongly believe I would be the best option'DAZN
The Swedish heavyweight went 12 rounds with WBC champion Tyson Fury in 2019.

Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin has put himself forward to face Anthony Joshua whose next fight date is unkown.

Joshua is currently preparing for a rematch with WBA, WBO and IBF world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, but with a date yet to bet set, Joshua could have a fight in the interim as he looks to stay active.

One fighter that has put himself forward is Wallin who believes he is the right man to help Joshua prepare for Usyk. 

"I strongly believe I would be the best option, simply because I think that Joshua would want an opponent to help him prepare for Usyk," Wallin told Vegas Insider

"I’m a southpaw and I fight somewhat similar to Usyk. That’s not easy to come by. 

"If I was Joshua I would look at who’s similar to Usyk. I would say Parker is more like Usyk than Joyce but he’s not a southpaw and Joshua already beat him. Luis Ortiz doesn’t fight like Usyk, he’s been knocked out twice by Wilder and he was dropped by Charles Martin. 

"I have proven myself to be a very worthy opponent at the highest level. I gave Tyson Fury his hardest fight and sent him to the hospital to get 47 stitches on his eye. 

"I honestly believe it would be a war. We had two wars in the amateurs where he got the decisions in both fights that could’ve gone either way.

"We also sparred 150+ rounds before he fought Charles Martin and even though it was sparring nobody wanted to give an inch. 

"My message to Eddie and AJ is simple. If Joshua wants a real fight against the most worthy and stylistically best opponent it’s me. "

Wallin also expressed his confidence in beating Joshua claiming that it might be the right time to face the 32-year-old. 

"I think the timing is good for me," Wallin said.

"I agree that Joshua seems a bit lost and even in interviews he doesn’t look like himself like how I used to see him.

"Maybe it’s good or maybe it’s bad. Time will tell." 

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