'Day of Reckoning' predictions: Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder to win in Riyadh

Heavyweight stars will be on collision course if they can both win in Riyadh on Saturday night

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  Anthony Joshua v Otto Wallin Joshua by UD

  Only a win will do for the former heavyweight champion, and despite facing a solid challenger in Wallin, he should have enough to get the job done. Four of his last six have gone the distance and Wallin has proven a durable and sturdy operator so it’s a fair bet this will go deep. Wallin is confident, fit and game but has never been the most difficult to hit. Joshua by decision seems the call but a late rounds KO is also very much in play. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Deontay Wilder v Joseph Parker Wilder by KO5

  This battle between two former heavyweight belt holders should make for a fascinating watch. Wilder has had his issues with shorter fighters over the years, and a fit and active Parker capable of closing the gap and happy to let his hands go is likely to have success. That said, you’d expect Wilder to land that big right hand at some point and usually that’s enough to get the job done. There might be periods of inactivity but when these two throw, they will throw together, and somebody is going down. Parker's trainer Andy Lee says it will be a "shootout" - it's hard to bet against Wilder in a shootout. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Dmitry Bivol v Lyndon Arthur Bivol by UD

  Bivol’s fights tend to go deep. The brilliant Russian has won his last eight by unanimous decision, with the WBA light heavyweight champion often preferring to take his time dissecting an opponent. Arthur is a well-schooled fighter in his own right with an educated jab, but is unlikely to pose a huge threat to one of the sport’s leading pound-for-pound fighters. The question is whether Bivol will step on the gas and force the stoppage or coast to a wide decision win after a lengthy period of inactivity.Show less

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  Daniel Dubois v Jarrell Miller Dubois by KO9

  Boxing's best talker versus its worst. If you listened to Miller you’d think he was the second coming of George Foreman. He is not. That said, some give him a chance here given he will come in heavy and look to pressure Dubois who, for all his talent and explosive punching, has shown vulnerability. If it reaches the middle rounds and Miller is bullying Dubois then it could get very interesting. Dubois, though, is a heavy and accurate puncher with a big target to aim at. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Jai Opetaia v Ellis Zorro Opetaia by KO4

  Unfortunately could prove to be a bad mismatch. Opetaia is one of the most exciting fighters in the sport right now and isn’t inclined to play with his food. Zorro is a solid UK domestic operator but he’s in too deep here. Based on Opetaia's last outing against the similarly overmatched Jordan Thompson, he is likely to get the job done quickly. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Arslanbek Makhmudov v Agit Kabayel Makhmudov by KO9

  Kabayel recently reclaimed the European heavyweight title after a long period of inactivity and but is in deep against the heavy hitting Makhmudov. Kabayel should have the movement and skill to stay out of danger and enjoy some success of his own, but Makhmudov’s punching power is likely to prove the difference. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Frank Sanchez v Junior Fa Sanchez by KO7

  Cuba’s Sanchez should prove to be levels above Fa, who was recently knocked out by a heavily faded Lucas Browne inside a round. Sanchez is 23-0 and looking to move up in the rankings towards a title shot. Getty ImagesShow less

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  Filip Hrgovic v Mark De Mori Hrgovic by KO3

  De Mori (41-2) is famous for a few things: Learning to box on Youtube, being battered in two rounds by David Haye, and having perhaps the most padded record in all of boxing. Hrgovic can take a little while to warm up but once he does he will take out De Mori with little trouble. Getty ImagesShow less

Former world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua admits his career is on the line when he faces Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.

Two-time world champion Joshua, who lost his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and also came up short in a rematch, is fighting on the same card as ex-WBC title holder Deontay Wilder.

The pair could fight next if both are victorious in Riyadh, with Wilder facing New Zealand's former WBO title holder Joseph Parker.

Asked if he might take his eye off the ball given a Wilder fight is in the works, Joshua said he was not thinking beyond Saturday's bout.

"My heart, my soul, every cell in my body is fully focused towards Otto Wallin and doing what I know I can do," the 34-year-old said.

"I know where I'm going in my life. But I've also got to say, this is the checkpoint and if I don't get past this, there is no future.

"So I'm fully locked into Otto Wallin and doing the job."

The Joshua-Wallin fight headlines a stacked eight-fight card in Riyadh. To see our predictions for each of the bouts you can swipe or scroll through the gallery at the top of the page.