We've seen Wallin use different gameplans before, against Gassiev he was on the back foot for pretty much the entire fight but in the fight against Fury he was on the front foot quite a bit, especially early on in the fight. How will he approach the fight on Saturday? I'd like to see him try to get on the front foot cause it would make for a more exciting fight but that could play into AJ's hands because AJ is powerful and good at countering, especially with the straight right hand. Most likely gonna be a mid-range battle though, don't see a back foot gameplan being used by either guy here. Unless AJ feels like Wallin can't hurt him and just start to walk him down which will force Wallin to be on the retreat.
Wallin needs to start out from the onset and set a high pace but also box clever to take advantage of Joshua’s hesitancy of late and also to make him work for the full round,every round. Should Wallin allow Joshua to get in a groove or allow Joshua to dictate the pace then this wont be good for Wallin,Joshua as we know certainly has the power to cause Wallin problems. It is certainly an interesting matchup to see how both fighters go about there business .
If Cruserweight Gassiev who is great puncher but still smaller man (reach and height) make Wallin go back with jab, jab, jab, and jab 85% of the fight I dont expect smth else when he fight bigger guy with reach advantage who is stronger and harder hitter than Murat. Wallin will be on backfoot, maybe if Joshua come shy to fight he will try little bit more. But I think he focus more on "not take too much damage" than "give much damage" People try hard to forget that Joshua when he let his hands go have one of the quickest and more powerful combinationts in the division. Yes. He lost because of that with person like Ruiz (very, very quick short hands) and with Usyk who is masterclass but I cant imagine that Wallin will be faster and sharper. Also Joshua is not Fury. He punch harder and faster. For me Otto will make Joshua some problems, maybe if he is though he will hear last bell but I dont think Joshua give him win this. Sooner or later he would attack more and Wallin will have problem.
Wallin must not rely on winning rounds against a fighter bigger than him and with a longer reach, regardless of the fact that Joshua is not the same as before and Wallin did not impress in previous fights, in this fight Wallin must box better than ever before and even go for that knockout, but judging by his previous fights, when he went all the rounds against weak fighters, and Joshua is bigger and more dangerous, that won't happen...
Joshua might lose to himself but if he brings his best I don’t see any way Wallin wins. If Joshua chokes Wallin should just jump him and not let off.
