Anthony Joshua is fighting his way back to relevance, to be seen as a top boxer around the world once again.
The British-Nigerian boxer fought exclusively in world title bouts from 2016 to 2022.
But Saturday’s night fight against Otto Wallin was his third consecutive non-title bout.
Before Wallin in 2023, were wins over Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius.
Joshua is clearly working his way back to championship class.
It took him five rounds to see off Wallin, whose coach threw in the towel.
Joshua reminded everyone in Jeddah of his solid, technical skill, particularly with a hefty right cross-left hook combination in the fifth round.
“I can’t grade my performance. My performance team will judge me and the fans at home will have a lot to say, so I’ll leave it up to them,” Joshua said afterwards.
“Not a throwback fight, just another fight. It was just another day in the office.
“All I want to be is victorious for as long as I can,” Joshua said afterwards.
In the background ahead of this fight, his representatives were in talks for a potential two-fight deal with Deontay Wilder in 2024.
It remains to be seen what comes out of that, after Joseph Parker tore up the script, upsetting Wilder with a wide unanimous decision win on the same bill in Riyadh.
But Joshua is sure on his way back up.
