Day of Reckoning tips: Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder knockouts expected in full card acca

Here, Planet Sport looks ahead to each fight on what promises to be a historic show in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

 

Frank Sanchez vs Junior Fa (10 round heavyweight contest)

A very heavyweight-centric night of action will be kicked off by unbeaten Cuban big-hitter Sanchez, who is fourth in the WBO rankings and will push himself nearer a shot at Oleksandr Usyk’s belt if he overcomes Fa as he is expected to on Saturday night.

Fa has not fought for over a year after he followed up back-to-back losses to Joseph Parker and Lucas Browne with a win over Tussi Asafo. His inactivity only adds to Sanchez’s chances of victory, which should come in a relatively comfortable fashion.

Prediction: Frank Sanchez to win on points - 10/3

 

Filip Hrgovic vs Mark De Mori (12 round heavyweight contest)

Sanchez is not too far away from a world title shot, but Filip Hrgovic is next in line as Usyk’s IBF mandatory. This is simply a tick-over fight for the talented Croatian, who will not be under any threat of losing his high ranking against a shot opponent like 41-year-old De Mori.

Once Tyson Fury and Usyk fight for the undisputed belts on February 17, a contest with Hrgovic will be mandated but with an immediate rematch between the two champions expected, ‘El Animal’ will likely fight for a vacated IBF belt in 2024 after he steamrolls De Mori.

Prediction: Filip Hrgovic to win between rounds one and three - 4/11

 

Jai Opetaia vs Ellis Zorro (12 round bout for Ring magazine world cruiserweight title)

Speaking of mismatches, here’s another. Opetaia’s sparkling performance in his demolition of Jordan Thompson in September earned him a spot on this Saudi card.

Since dethroning Mairis Briedis in July 2022, Opetaia has become the man at cruiserweight  and he will not be stopped by Zorro, who has yet to fight an opponent anywhere near to the Australian’s level and will be exposed in Riyadh.

Prediction: Jai Opetaia to win via stoppage - 1/5

 

Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Agit Kabayel (10 round heavyweight contest)

All eyes will be on the heavyweight division in 2024 as Fury vs Usyk and Joshua vs Wilder *should* both take place. But waiting in the wings is a certain intimidating Russian by the name of Makhmudov.

Twelve of his 18 wins have come via stoppage in the opening round and while the unbeaten Kabayel will provide his toughest test to date, Makhmudov will come out of this event smelling of roses after earning another win via a devastating TKO/knockout.

Prediction: Arslanbek Makhmudov to win via stoppage - 3/10

 

Dmitry Bivol vs Lyndon Arthur (12 round bout for WBA world light heavyweight title)

The man who conquered Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez, Bivol returns at the Day of Reckoning as he defends his WBA world light heavyweight belt against Arthur.

The Brit has flirted with world level in the past but Bivol is truly an elite operator who should outclass his opponent at the weekend and *hopefully* set up a long-awaited undisputed bout with Artur Beterbiev in 2024.

Prediction: Dmitry Bivol to win on points - 8/11

 

Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller (10 round heavyweight bout)

Dubois performed better than most expected against Usyk earlier this year but he was ultimately stopped after taking a knee. The Brit has come under scrutiny over his alleged lack of fight and he will hope to kickstart his rebuild against infamous drugs cheat Miller.

Sadly for Dubois, he is being thrown to the wolves this weekend as despite all of the controversy surrounding him, Miller is a massive lump who will cause the Brit problems in the ring, just as he’s done on the microphone.

If he can survive the early onslaught from Dubois, Miller will grow into this fight and earn a win via stoppage in the late rounds or on points.

Prediction: Jarrel Miller to win - 2/1

 

Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker (12 round heavyweight bout)

After over a year of inactivity, ‘The Bronze Bomber’ is finally back. His return bout is against former world champion Parker, who interestingly has worked closely with Tyson Fury in recent years.

Wilder is not known for being a gifted boxer but his freakish punch power is enough to turn any fight in his favour.

He heads into this bout as a massive favourite but his ring rust and the long-lasting effect of his wars with Fury could play a key factor in this fight as Parker is more than capable of causing an upset.

Parker will win all the rounds for as long as this bout lasts, but with his back against the wall, Wilder - as he’s done many times before - will land a fight-ending haymaker to ground the contest to a halt.

Prediction: Deontay Wilder to win between rounds seven and nine - 3/1

 

Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin (12 round heavyweight bout)

And in the main event, we have Joshua against Swedish heavyweight Wallin, who arguably should have beat Fury after the Brit was badly cut during their 2019 bout.

Wallin is the first southpaw Joshua will face since Usyk and his awkward opponent will provide a major test at the weekend.

Working with Fury’s former trainer Ben Davison, Joshua will need to have spite about him in this fight and throw a flurry of vicious combination punches to deter his smaller rival.

The former world champion needs to be at his best to beat Wallin and cannot have one eye on Wilder. If he’s switched and heeds the advice of Davison, boxing fans could be gifted a trademark Joshua knockout on the eve of Christmas.

Prediction: Anthony Joshua to win via stoppage - 13/8