Deontay Wilder‘s fearsome reputation and Jarrell Miller‘s undefeated record were convincing enough. Perhaps that’s why Claressa Shields was about to put some of her hard-earned money—her net worth runs to $4 million, approx.—on the American heavyweights. Nobody can blame her. However, who knew ‘Anthony Joshua versus Otto Wallin: Day of Reckoning’ would usher in probably some of the biggest upsets of the year?
For a boxer who had earned the moniker ‘Dr. Sleep’ for sending nearly 98% of his opponents stargazing, Deontay Wilder entered as the clear favorite against Joseph Parker. Likewise, right from the pre-fight events, it appeared the more aggressive Jarrell Miller would flatten Daniel Dubois during the early rounds. The latter was coming off a second career loss to Oleksandr Usyk in August. But in the end, both Parker and Dubois proved the pundits as well as the die-hard followers wrong. She hadn’t specified how much she planned to bet. But it seems Claressa Shields’ prediction about Otto Wallin hit the bullseye.
Claressa Shields avoids the money drain
On her X/Twitter account yesterday evening, the undisputed middleweight champion congratulated Anthony Joshua for his dominating performance against Otto Wallin. Then she mentioned how she was about to lose some serious money had she gone ahead and flipped the coin. She seemed pretty clear that Otto Wallin would succumb to the former heavyweight champion’s strength. But she thought that both Deontay Wilder and Jarrell Miller would cruise through their bouts.
She said, “Congrats to @anthonyjoshus on Ko’ing Otto walling! If I would’ve bet yesterday, I would’ve lost a lot of money! Only person I had losing was Otto. But I was definitely pulling for Wilder & thought Big baby would beat Dubois! Heavyweight boxing is back!“
Congrats to @anthonyjoshus on Ko’ing Otto walling! If I would’ve bet yesterday I would’ve lost a lot of money! Only person I had losing was Otto. But I was definitely pulling for Wilder & thought Big baby would beat Dubois! Heavyweight boxing is back!
— Claressa Gwoat Shields (@Claressashields) December 24, 2023
It seems Claressa Shields, who is expected to return next year, most probably to the octagon, took a timely decision. The boxing great last fought off Maricela Cornejo on June 3. Off-late, she has been busy with a few of her outreach programs based out of her hometown of Flint, Michigan.
A Day of Remembrance!
It was Joseph Parker’s sheer discipline and sticking to the game plan that nullified every trick ‘The Bronze Bomber’ had in his kitty. Round after round, it appeared as if the American heavyweight was looking for that golden moment to launch his ‘Hail Mary’ shot. But Parker, the busier of the two, pushed him onto the ropes. In fact, a few of his overhands connected, dazzling Wilder.
Much earlier in the co-main event, during one of the cards, Daniel Dubois crushed Jarrell Miller over the rounds. The controversial American heavyweight, who returned to active boxing last year, struggled as the young Londoner moved around, launching attacks at will. In the final round, Dubois corned Miller on the ropes and launched a barrage of combinations. Sensing trouble, the referee jumped in to stop the fight.
But the highlight was, as many called it, Anthony Joshua’s thoughtful boxing. The former heavyweight champion, on a resurgence path since his consecutive losses to Usyk, controlled the narrative right into the opening round. Probably a few expected the Swede, who took Tyson Fury the whole distance, to stage another upset like Joseph Parker. But none of the sort happened.
Do you think Joshua should still pursue the big fight against Wilder next year? Please share your views with us in the comments below.
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