Anthony Joshua has not ruled out a future fight with Deontay Wilder despite the American’s shock defeat to Joseph Parker in Saudi Arabia.
Joshua rolled back the years with a ruthless win against Otto Wallin in the main event of the ‘Day of Reckoning’ card in Riyadh.
The Briton dominated their bout from the opening bell with Wallin’s corner pulling him out of the fight after five rounds.
A long-awaited meeting with Wilder looked to be next for the Briton but ‘The Bronze Bomber’ failed to live up to his side of the deal after suffering a comprehensive defeat to Parker earlier on the card.
The defeat will surely scupper plans for Joshua and Wilder to fight but the Olympian believes it can still be made down the line.
Earlier on the card, Daniel Dubois secured a late knockout win over Jarrell Miller, bouncing back from his summer defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua believes Wilder can also come again ‘and fight another day’.
Asked if Wilder’s defeat was ‘the final nail in the coffin’ for their fight, Joshua told DAZN: ‘No, why would it? Look at Dubois this evening. He’s came back.
‘Keep on pushing, keep on striving, you can do anything and we can fight another day. I’m sure everyone wants to see that fight.’
Joshua was going through his final preparations while Wilder was losing to Parker and says he was not watching as the New Zealander provided the biggest shock of the night.
‘I wasn’t watching,’ Joshua continued. ‘I just focused on myself. I know how important it was for me. I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back. Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.’
Joshua praised Wallin, whose only other professional defeat came at the hands of Tyson Fury in 2019, and also paid tribute to Ben Davison who was brought into the coaching team ahead of the fight.
‘Otto is a true warrior. The corner play a huge role so their fighter can live to fight another day. I’m a gifted fighter and I use my gift. I’m searching for greatness.
‘Ben Davison is a great addition to my goal. I’m sure you can see that today.’
MORE : Anthony Joshua back to his destructive best as he beats Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia
MORE : Joseph Parker stuns Deontay Wilder to wreck plans for Anthony Joshua fight
For more stories like this, check our sport page.
Follow Metro Sport for the latest news on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Share this with