Anthony Joshua speaks to his head coach Ben Davison during the media workout ahead of his heavyweight fight against Otto Wallin at the Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday, December 23, 2023. AFP
British heavyweight Anthony Joshua spent less than a minute shadow boxing for his workout. PA
Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn looks on as Anthony Joshua trains during the media workout day. Joshua's fight against Otto Wallin is one of the co-main events on the 'Day of Reckoning' card. Getty
Sweden's Otto Wallin does some light shadow boxing during his workout. Getty
Anthony Joshua poses for a photo with children from a Riyadh boxing club. Getty
Otto Wallin has a pro record of 26 wins, one loss and one no contest. Getty
Former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder hits the pads with head coach Malik Scott. Getty
Deontay Wilder takes on another former heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in the co-main event at 'Day of Reckoning' in Saudi Arabia. Getty
American heavyweight Deontay Wilder has won 42 of his 43 fights by knockout, suffering only two defeats and one draw. Getty
Deontay Wilder trains with his head coach Malik Scott. Getty
New Zealander Joseph Parker is a former WBO heavyweight champion and Deontay Wilder's opponent on Saturday. Getty
Joseph Parker poses during the media workout. Getty
Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder went through very different workouts ahead of their coming bouts in Saudi Arabia.
British heavyweight Joshua, who faces Otto Wallin in Riyadh on Saturday, kept his public workout low-key, doing barely a minute of shadow boxing before he invited local youngsters into the ring.
American Wilder, meanwhile, tuned up for his clash with Joseph Parker by giving a glimpse of his awesome power during a more high octane workout with head coach Malik Scott.
Former two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua will step into the ring for 30th time this weekend on a card billed as the "Day of Reckoning", but the talk ahead of this latest bout in Saudi Arabia has swirled around a proposed clash with Wilder in 2024.
“I do want to hurt him, that’s fact,” Joshua (26-3, 23KOs) told TNT Sports, when asked about Wallin.
“This [workout] ain’t fun for me, this is just work. What will be fun is Saturday night getting my hand raised.
“All of this is really nice, but this ain’t for me. This is for the entertainment, for the viewers, for the people who have come to Saudi to watch a night of boxing. My entertainment is in the ring on Saturday night and I’m not there yet so I’ve got to stay focused.
“I’m here with you guys out of contractual obligations so I will fulfil my obligations but ultimately my true, true obligation is to fight on Saturday night.
“I need to win, I have to win and yeah, if it is destined and meant to be, it’s meant to be.”
Before Joshua stepped in the ring for his non-workout, which has been a feature of other fight weeks, Wilder discussed the pressure being put his 34-year-old rival.
Wilder (43-2-1, 42KOs) added: “It’s been so long that people talk about me and him getting in the ring. I think there is a lot more pressure on him than me.
“A lot of people talk about how he responded to media. I had a lot of media come up to me today and ask me about his behaviour. I say you all put a lot of pressure on him. He has got to focus on Otto Wallin.
“You put a lot of pressure on him, I wish everyone would back off him.”
BeIN Sports currently has the rights to show
- Champions League
- English Premier League
- Spanish Primera Liga
- Italian, French and Scottish leagues
- Wimbledon and other tennis majors
- Formula One
- Rugby Union - Six Nations and European Cups
The five new places of worship
Church of South Indian Parish
St Andrew's Church Mussaffah branch
St Andrew's Church Al Ain branch
St John's Baptist Church, Ruwais
Church of the Virgin Mary and St Paul the Apostle, Ruwais
RESULTS
5pm: Wathba Stallions Cup – Handicap (PA) Dh70,000 (Turf) 2,200m Winner: M'A Yaromoon, Jesus Rosales (jockey), Khalifa Al Neydai (trainer)
5.30pm: Khor Al Baghal – Conditions (PA) Dh80,000 (T) 1,600m Winner: No Riesgo Al Maury, Antonio Fresu, Ibrahim Al Hadhrami
Spending an excessive amount of time on the phone.
Neglecting personal, social, or academic responsibilities.
Losing interest in other activities or hobbies that were once enjoyed.
Having withdrawal symptoms like feeling anxious, restless, or upset when the technology is not available.
Experiencing sleep disturbances or changes in sleep patterns.
What are the guidelines?
Under 18 months: Avoid screen time altogether, except for video chatting with family.
Aged 18-24 months: If screens are introduced, it should be high-quality content watched with a caregiver to help the child understand what they are seeing.
Aged 2-5 years: Limit to one-hour per day of high-quality programming, with co-viewing whenever possible.
Aged 6-12 years: Set consistent limits on screen time to ensure it does not interfere with sleep, physical activity, or social interactions.
Teenagers: Encourage a balanced approach – screens should not replace sleep, exercise, or face-to-face socialisation.
Source: American Paediatric Association
'Worse than a prison sentence'
Marie Byrne, a counsellor who volunteers at the UAE government's mental health crisis helpline, said the ordeal the crew had been through would take time to overcome.
“It was worse than a prison sentence, where at least someone can deal with a set amount of time incarcerated," she said.
“They were living in perpetual mystery as to how their futures would pan out, and what that would be.
“Because of coronavirus, the world is very different now to the one they left, that will also have an impact.
“It will not fully register until they are on dry land. Some have not seen their young children grow up while others will have to rebuild relationships.
“It will be a challenge mentally, and to find other work to support their families as they have been out of circulation for so long. Hopefully they will get the care they need when they get home.”
MATCH INFO
France 3
Umtiti (8'), Griezmann (29' pen), Dembele (63')
Italy 1
Bonucci (36')
Manchester United v Club America
When: Thursday, 9pm Arizona time (Friday UAE, 8am)
At a glance
- 20,000 new jobs for Emiratis over three years
- Dh300 million set aside to train 18,000 jobseekers in new skills
- Managerial jobs in government restricted to Emiratis
- Emiratis to get priority for 160 types of job in private sector
- Portion of VAT revenues will fund more graduate programmes
- 8,000 Emirati graduates to do 6-12 month replacements in public or private sector on a Dh10,000 monthly wage - 40 per cent of which will be paid by government
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