Boxing events being staged two days before Christmas Day are an extremely rare occurrence, but the card that has been set for Saturday night means that it is Christmas come early for boxing fans.
The occasion in Saudi Arabia, which is largely being promoted by Queensberry, is following on from the success of the cross-over fight involving Tyson Fury and Francis Ngannou a little short of two months ago.
An eight-fight card, dubbed 'The Day of Reckoning', is being headlined by the showdown between Anthony Joshua and Otto Wallin, with the chief-support being provided by Deontay Wilder's clash with Joseph Parker.
Among the boxing fraternity, the hope is that Joshua and Wilder both prevail from their respective bouts to set up at least one super-fight next year, but this is a card where at least one major upset would not come as a huge surprise.
Here, Sports Mole previews the event in Riyadh, along with making predictions for each of the main bouts.
ANTHONY JOSHUA AND DEONTAY WILDER
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For months, the talk had been about Joshua and Wilder finally going into battle at some point in 2023, only for talks with Saudi Arabia breaking down and Fury and Ngannou taking the headline seat.
However, with the undisputed world heavyweight title fight between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk needing to be put back to February, a gap opened up for a mega card to be put together featuring a range of different promoters.
We have already seen Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren at the same table at a press conference, a sight never witnessed, but it was a sideshow for Joshua and Wilder being within feet of each other to their sides.
The aim is for the pair to meet next year, yet their full focus needs to be on competitive fights against the likes of Wallin and Parker, underdogs who are motivated to steal the show.
Joshua has built some confidence with wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius, the latter concluded with a devastating knockout, but the hesitation shown during the previous six rounds will only provide Wallin with confidence.
Wallin's only defeat in 27 outings is to Fury, who probably should have been pulled out mid-fight due to an horrendous cut, although he has since rebuilt with wins over Dominic Breazeale and Murat Gassiev, the latter success going under the radar.
Meanwhile, Wilder has fought just once in over two years, with that being a one-round knockout job of Helenius, and the sport's biggest puncher says that he feels fresh and rejuvenated ahead of a meeting with Parker.
The New Zealander is at somewhat of a crossroads having needed to rebuild after being stopped by Joe Joyce in September 2022, but three wins over lower-end contenders - the most recent being versus Simon Kean on the Fury, Ngannou undercard - has generated some momentum.
UNDERCARD
Despite the presence of Joshua and Wilder, perhaps the most intriguing fight on the card is the heavyweight tussle between Daniel Dubois and Jarrell Miller.
Dubois is still feeling a sense of injustice after what he felt was a legitimate punch to the body floored world champion Usyk in his last outing, only for it to be deemed a low blow and the Ukrainian able to recover and subsequently stop the Brit.
The undefeated Miller is back in boxing after a number of years away due to multiple failed drugs tests, but having already defeated Lucas Browne since making his comeback, the brash-talking American will catapult himself into world title contention with a win over Dubois.
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Another Brit in Lyndon Arthur is the huge underdog ahead of his clash with WBA super light-heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol, as is Ellis Zorro against Jai Opetaia, who has been harshly stripped of his IBF cruiserweight title.
Arslanbek Makhmudov will hope to make it 19 fights undefeated in the professional heavyweight ranks against former European champion Agit Kabayel.
Filip Hrgovic needs to take care of business against Mark De Mori - a former opponent of David Haye - to retain his IBF mandatory status, while Frank Sanchez goes up against New Zealand's Junior Fa.
PREDICTIONS
Wallin is taking confidence from Joshua now having Ben Davison - a former trainer of Fury - in his corner - and the Swede has, so far, been unflappable in the build-up.
That should not come as a surprise having already upset the odds to defeat Gassiev on points, but neither Fury or Gassiev possess the punching power of Joshua.
If he stays disciplined, yet remains proactive, Joshua could get a late stoppage or prevail on points, yet Wallin's southpaw stance has the potential to make this fight tricky for the 2012 Olympic Gold medallist.
Meanwhile, Parker is another fighter who insists that he is full of belief ahead of facing Wilder, as the former world champion feels he is punching the hardest at any point of his career.
However, despite his inactivity, it is difficult to back against Wilder, particularly when Parker has previously been floored heavily by Dillian Whyte and Joyce earlier in his career.
Of the other bouts, we expect the favourites to prevail aside from with Dubois and Miller. The personality of Miller could lead to Dubois - more shy and reserved - becoming overawed, and if he is unable to get his opponent, who will weighh well in excess of 300lbs, out of there during the early stages of the fight, we expect a Miller victory in the middle rounds.
Darren Plant
