Otto Wallin has named Anthony Joshua as a harder opponent than WBC world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury. Wallin, 33, was stopped by AJ, 34, within the fifth spherical in Saudi Arabia final month, with the Brit on a mission to reclimb the heavyweight mountain.

Joshua made lightwork of rival Fury's previous foe, who has now weighed in on who was the harder battle. "Well, I would say that this fight with Joshua was a lot tougher than the fight I had with Fury," Wallin mentioned after his defeat to Joshua.

"It’s hard to say. I think that Fury’s a very good fighter. Can probably pick it up from what he was doing in his last fight. It’s a decent fight. We’ll see what happens with Joshua now.

"He is perhaps on to one thing actually good with Ben Davison, and Ben clearly is aware of Tyson. I don’t know. There’s loads of variables. I at all times mentioned that Fury would win that battle, however now simply being in with Joshua, I really feel a bit of bit completely different. It’s onerous to go in opposition to Tyson I feel. But, I don’t know, it’s modified my thoughts a bit after this battle.”

The convincing win for Joshua has the Brit on the right track to battle for a world title within the subsequent couple of years. Joshua is predicted to look to battle for a vacant world title within the first half of 2024. This could be made potential due to Fury's proposed unification battle with Oleksandr Usyk subsequent yr. Due to the rematch clause, at the very least one of many belts may very well be stripped within the aftermath.

Should a world heavyweight title battle not come up, Joshua has stored the door open to a slugfest with Deontay Wilder, who was defeated on the identical card final month within the Middle East. Former WBC world heavyweight champ Wilder was overwhelmed by way of unanimous determination by Fury's longtime good friend, Joseph Parker.

"I'm not too sure what can happen from here," AJ began in his post-fight press convention. "But I'm sure from a fan perspective, they'll be more annoyed. For me, I always understand how this game is: You never know. This is elite-level boxing.

"Wilder simply got here up quick however he'll stay to battle one other day. Me and him may nonetheless get it on, we may nonetheless get it cracking. I consider I'm a large menace, I nonetheless assume Wilder's a menace and I nonetheless assume it does superb numbers if we get it on. But I'll depart that right down to my administration, trainers, promoters to make that call - I'm right down to battle anybody every time, and whoever."