Otto Wallin believes he is the “best option” for Anthony Joshua should the British star take an interim fight.
It appears likely that Joshua’s contracted rematch with unified heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk will be delayed after the 35-year-old enlisted in Ukranine’s military to defend his country in the ongoing war with Russia.
The two-weight world champion, who dethroned Joshua in London in September with a comprehensive unanimous decision win said in a recent interview that he wasn’t sure when he will return to boxing.
“I really don’t know when I’m going to be stepping back in the ring,” Usyk told CNN.
“My country and my honour are more important to me than a championship belt.”
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn spoke to Usyk’s promoter, Alex Krassyuk last week and Hearn admits he is doubtful Usyk will be ready to face his charge in June and therefore they would be open to taking an interim fight, before fighting Usyk afterwards, although is awaiting official confirmation on the status of the rematch.
Hearn told reporters last week that Joshua is keen to face the likes of former world champion, Deontay Wilder and ex-Team GB teammate, Joe Joyce who he has been exchanging words with on social media in recent days.
The 32-year-old Watford man has also been linked with Luis Ortiz and Otto Wallin, both southpaw operators like Usyk and the latter believes he would be the best choice.
“I feel like I’m really deserving of this fight [with Joshua],” Wallin told BoxingScene.com.
“And I’m the best option for sure. That’s bigger than anything to me.
“There’s nobody better than me to emulate Usyk.
“I’m a southpaw. We have the European style. We fight somewhat similar.
“Ortiz is a southpaw, but he doesn’t fight like that. He has the Cuban style and he got dropped twice by Charles Martin, and he didn’t look that good.
“There’s not that many southpaws out there and I’m the most similar to Usyk. So, that’s a no-brainer to me.”
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Wallin has won three on the spin since a sole professional loss to Tyson Fury in September 2019, beating Travis Kauffman, Dominic Breazeale and most recently, Kamil Sokolowski in Cardiff in January.
The 31-year-old Swede was set to face Dillian Whyte in October, before the Brixton man withdrew from their showdown with a shoulder injury.
A fight between Joshua and Wallin would rekindle an amateur rivalry, which saw the Brit prevail on two occasions, but Wallin says Joshua’s two professional defeats to Usyk and Andy Ruiz Jr gives him the confidence that he would be victorious.
1/2
I’m by far the best option here. Wilder is coming off back to back KO losses against Fury that I took the distance and sent to the hospital to get 47 stitches.Ortiz got dropped twice by Charles Martin that Joshua wiped out in 2 rounds. https://t.co/DxSnGV5zU1
— Otto Wallin (@OttoWallin) March 10, 2022
2/2
I think Joe Joyce could give AJ a good fight but he’s nothing like Usyk.The only reason Joshua wouldn’t pick me as the opponent is because they know I’m a big threat and I’ll hand him his third loss. https://t.co/DxSnGV5zU1 pic.twitter.com/rCS6KulPpO
— Otto Wallin (@OttoWallin) March 10, 2022
“I watched him and Ruiz at the gym and last week I watched him and Usyk,” Wallin added.
“And, I mean, if those guys can beat him and I don’t take anything away from those guys, they’re very good fighters, but so am I.
“If two other guys can beat him, so can I. I know that. I fought him as an amateur and I’ve been waiting for this fight ever since then.”
