ANTHONY JOSHUA could retire if he's taught a boxing lesson by Otto Wallin in their Saudi showdown, it's been claimed.
AJ will continue his career rebuild with a short-notice Riyadh rumble with his former sparring partner a week on Saturday.
A multi-million-pound grudge match with long-time rival Deontay Wilder is at stake for the former unified heavyweight champion.
Although Wallin's promoter Dmitry Salita reckons AJ's career itself is also on the line in the Kingdom clash.
When asked if Joshua could retire after losing to Wallin, he told OLBG: "It depends on how he loses.
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"If it’s a technicality by a cut or a headbutt then he will call for a rematch but if he is outboxed in a boring fight, then there may not be a desire for a rematch, and he may not want it.
"it is a standard protocol to have a rematch clause in place and you have to protect yourself, but I don’t think the rematch is real unless it is a Gatti vs Ward type of fight.
"But I don’t think there will be a rematch."
Team Joshua are confident of getting past Wallin, so much so they've already set a March date for a showdown with Wilder.
That's baffled Salita, who said: "It is a bit odd the next date is scheduled.
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"Both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder are fighting bonafide, world-class contenders in Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker but it puts more interest on this night of boxing.
"In announcing March 9 for the fight is risky but it is sport and adds more interest, more fuel and excitement for Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker."
Wallin - who took Tyson Fury the distance in their 2019 showdown - will put himself on the brink of a world title fight if he upsets Joshua.
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Although the rematch clause in their contract could very well scupper an early 2024 title bout for the Swedish slugger
He told Vegas Insider: “If it was just up to me, it wouldn't be there of course.
"I can't say I was particularly happy about it. I'm currently in a really good position in the IBF, so I could have waited and maybe fought for the IBF title.
"But we got this opportunity that we felt was really good, and if I beat Anthony Joshua once I can beat him again," Wallin told Vegas Insider.
“If I beat Anthony Joshua twice I should be in line to fight for any title out there.
"So that means I'm kind of giving up my shot with the IBF, but that is okay, considering if I beat Anthony Joshua twice, I could be in line to fight for pretty much any title.”
