Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Dmitry Bivol on the Same Card Could Be a Very Stupid or the Wisest Decision Ever Made in Boxing History

The grand stage is set. Gladiators of the boxing world will walk out to the square arena on December 23. Once again, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, will become the epicenter of everything boxing. Multiple storylines will collide when Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Dmitry Bivol fight under the same card. While the card seems like a setup for Joshua vs. Wilder in the first quarter of 2024, the chances of the card descending into chaos are plenty. Is this the greatest play in recent history or a disaster in the waiting?

The Saudis and Eddie Hearn moved swiftly to organize and fill up the December 23 card when Tyson Fury‘s injuries pushed his anticipated clash with Oleksandr Usyk to February 2024. They did a remarkable job assembling a mouthwatering lineup studded with stars in a very short time. The blockbuster event will end the year with a bang for boxing fans. Despite this, there are other lingering issues with the card.

Who takes the accolades home- Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, or Dmitry Bivol?

It’s rare to have three boxing stars fighting on the same card. Anthony Joshua, riding on a two-win streak, will try to maintain his winning momentum against Swedish Heavyweight Otto Wallin. Meanwhile, Wilder, a fearsome puncher, will grace the boxing ring for the first time in 2023 against Joseph Parker.

Likewise, Dmitry Bivol, after slaying Canelo Alvarez and Gilberto Ramirez, will defend his light heavyweight crown and undefeated record against Lyndon Arthur. But the question is, who will garner eyeballs and limelight? While there is a high probability of all three collecting a win, the chances of one overshadowing the other two are equally high. ‘AJ’ and Wilder both need a win to keep their fading boxing careers alive.

While Bivol has a more formidable opponent in Arthur and is fighting on the undercard, his comeback from an injury adds to the intrigue surrounding him. Therefore, he might steal Joshua and Wilder’s thunder even before they fight. Further, if Wilder or Joshua loses his bout, the future event that has been lined up collapses miserably. But the card also offers a sneak peek into the future after the demise of Showtime Boxing.

A colossal card may be a hint at what the future of boxing holds

The thin cards with unknown fighters and big names barely coming together are the issues that have plagued boxing in recent years. However, the rise of Saudi Arabia as the hub of sporting events is changing the narrative. The stacked cards are what boxing fans need, and the December 23 card offers them a glimmer of hope.

While the allure of more significant money is the reason, the shutting down of Showtime Boxing and its PPV operations has aided the process. The promoters are on alert, and the fans can expect similar stacked cards in the future, kicked off by the December 23 card. Contrarily, loaded cards with no focus can also draw flak.

Suffering the same fate as KSI vs Tommy Fury and Dillon Danis vs. Logan Paul

The off-ring shenanigans overshadowed the KSI vs. Tommy Fury‘s headliner. It was the Nina Adgal controversy, and Dillon Danis‘ X handle trolling, followed by his press conference antics, that eclipsed the main event. The fans were no longer interested in the punches pulled in the boxing ring, but in whether Danis would pull out at the last moment.

The limelight eluded KSI and Tommy Fury until the controversial decision at the end of their fight. A similar fate might befall the December 23 card. Joshua’s entanglement with Francis Ngannou, Bivol’s rematch with Canelo Alvarez, and Wilder’s lingering retirement might garner more eyeballs than the event itself.

Read More: “That Was Just Bad Preparation”: While Branding Tyson Fury “Lucky” for Winning Francis Ngannou Fight, Eddie Hearn Pulls No Punches Back While Being Brutally Honest About the ‘Gypsy King’s Performance

But does that adversely affect the card? Probably not. That only adds hype to the event and might help rack in better PPV numbers. KSI vs. Tommy Fury’s event sold almost 1.3 million PPVs, a number that the December 23 card aims to not only chase but also add to the dust.

The undercard details of Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin

The reported card details are as follows:

• Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker
• Anthony Joshua vs Otto Wallin
• Dmitry Bivol vs Richard Rivera
• Daniel Dubois vs Jarrell Miller
• Martin Bakole vs Filip Hrgovic

What do you make of this stacked card for December 23? Do you believe the star-laden lineup of Anthony Joshua, Deontay Wilder, and Dmitry Bivol is a once-in-a-lifetime card? Let us know in the comments below.

Watch this story: All We Know So Far About Potential Francis Ngannou vs. Deontay Wilder MMA Fight