Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin fight results, highlights: 'AJ' returns with dominant showing to score TKO win

Joshua is back in a big way after stopping Wallin at the completion of Round 5 on Saturday night in Saudi Arabia

Moments before making the walk to the ring in Saudi Arabia, Anthony Joshua saw his hopes for a big money fight with Deontay Wilder almost certainly evaporate when Wilder lost a one-sided decision to Joseph Parker. Joshua did not make the same misstep as Wilder, dominating Otto Wallin for five rounds before Wallin's corner called off the bout.

Joshua and Wilder were the co-headliners for "Day of Reckoning," which was a loaded card with the primary aim of leading to Joshua vs. Wilder in a two-fight series in 2024. While Wilder's loss likely tanks those plans, Joshua will enter the new year with plenty of momentum and looking to do big things.

Wallin never really got in the fight, struggling to get past Joshua's jab and right hand to do any meaningful work.

Joshua, to his credit, seemed to have gone back to his more aggressive style of years past, using heavy shots and forcing Wallin onto the back foot at every turn.

In Round 5, Joshua landed a heavy right hand followed by a left hook that sent Wallin stumbling. Joshua tried to pile on the big shots to get the stoppage, but Wallin was able to survive to the bell.

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Wallin didn't look entirely steady going back to his corner and it took just a matter of seconds for his corner to waive off the fight, awarding Joshua a fifth-round TKO.

"I wasn't watching [Wilder's loss]," Joshua said after the fight. "I just focus on myself. I knew how important this fight was for me. I heard Deontay lost, so what? I'm sure he'll come back. ... Deontay? Everything he said about me, I could rip him apart right now but I'll take the high ground."

Joshua wasn't fully ready to write off a 2024 bout with Wilder, however, especially with WBC champion Tyson Fury and unified WBO, WBA and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk likely set to occupy each other's time for the coming year.  

"No, listen. Look at [Daniel] Dubois this evening," Joshua said. "He's come back. You can do anything. If he wants, he can come back and fight another day. It's up to him. I'm sure everybody still wants to see that fight."

CBS Sports was with you all night with the live results and highlights below. 

Fight card, results

• Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via fifth-round TKO
• Joseph Parker def. Deontay Wilder via unanimous decision (118-111, 118-110, 120-108)
• Dmitry Bivol (c) def. Lyndon Arthur via unanimous decision (120-107, 120-107, 120-107)
• Daniel Dubois def. Jarrell Miller via 10th-round TKO
• Agit Kabayel def. Arslanbek Makhmudov via fourth-round TKO
• Jai Opetaia def. Ellis Zorro via first-round knockout
• Filip Hrgovic def. Mark De Morio via first-round TKO
• Frank Sanchez def. Junior Fa via seventh-round TKO

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:47 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Otto Wallin's corner called off the fight after Round 5

Official result: Anthony Joshua def. Otto Wallin via TKO, Round 5

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:47 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin -- Round 5: Joshua landed a right and came back with a good left hook after. Wallin had shown little ability to gain Joshua's respect and it was allowing Joshua to do what he wanted with little fear. Joshua again dipped down with a hard right to the body. Joshua cracked with a big left that stumbled Wallin badly. Joshua chaged in looking to land a bomb and finish the fight. Another right hand connected for Joshua and a hard jab. A huge round for Joshua but Wallin survived. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Joshua (50-45)

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:43 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin -- Round 4: Joshua nearly connected with a huge right hand before Wallin hit him with a jab to the chest. A big right did get through for Joshua as he pressed hard and went to the body after. Wallin got in a left hook but was immediately pushed back by Joshua, who connected with a sharp one-two combo. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Joshua (40-36)

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:39 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin -- Round 3: Wallin connected with a few early jabs. Joshua fired back his own jab and went downstairs with a right hand. Another right landed for Joshua, coming straight through Wallin's guard. Joshua landed a left hook that caught Wallin a bit off-balance. Wallin stuck his own jab into Joshua's face. Wallin is trying to find space to land but Joshua has the harder punches and it's making things really hard for Wallin. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Joshua (30-27)

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:35 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin -- Round 2: Joshua landed a cuffing hook to the side of Wallin's head. A right hand from Joshua landed well as he seemed confident he could do work without having to worry much about return fire from Wallin. Joshua's defense was solid, moving out of the way of Wallin's punches while looking to either get off first or come back with a counter. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Joshua (20-18)

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:31 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin -- Round 1: Joshua worked an early jab before landing a good right hand to the body. Joshua just missed with a straight right to the jaw, just glancing off Wallin. Wallin missed with his own right hand. Joshua tried to get a right hand around Wallin's guard but didn't quite get there. Unofficial scorecard: 10-9 Joshua

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:17 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

It's time for the Joshua vs. Wallin ring walks as soon as the national anthems are finished. It's been an incredibly long show but we're in the home stretch now.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 6:04 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Anthony Joshua (26-3, 23 KO) vs Otto Wallin (26-1, 14 KO) is up next in the night's main event. Joshua likely just saw his big-money fight with Deontay Wilder evaporate but still will be looking to do his part in picking up a needed victory.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:53 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Official result: Joseph Parker def. Deontay Wilder via unanimous decision (118-111, 118-110, 120-108)

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:49 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 12: Parker landed an early right hand before the two exchanged shots and Wilder threw several hammerfists to the back of Parker's head, receiving a warning for the foul. Wilder really turned up the offense, throwing a lot of power behind everything before running into another right hand. Wilder missed a wild right hand. Wilder connected with a hard right hand and Parker clinched up. Wilder continued to fire the right hand, knowing he needed the knockout or truly bad judging to win the fight but Pit was Parker who landed the clean right and a left hook. Parker managed to get to the final bell and should take the decision. Huge upset incoming.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:45 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 11: Parker landed the better jab as both men opened the round popping the left hands out. Parker tried to get in with the looping right hand again but it was caught by Wilder's shoulder. Wilder tried to find the right hand but missed and Parker landed a few to the body and one to the head. One round left for Wilder to find the KO shot.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:41 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 10: Wilder connected with a jab as Parker missed with an overhand right. Parker connected with a big jumping hook and a right behind it as Wilder fell back into the ropes before clinching. 17 of 54 power shots have connected for Wilder in the fight into the final minute of the 10th round. Wilder pawed with the jab a bit before missing with the right once again. Parker landed the overhand right late in the round.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:37 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 9: Parker didn't come out wildy to start the round but did connect with a heavy right hand in the first exchange. Wilder looked a bit gunshy, no longer letting his right hand go and just trying to work the jab and regain his sense. Wilder threw a right hand late in the round but missed and then got caught by a Parker left hook as they separated.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:34 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 8: If Wilder wasn't losing on the scorecards coming into this round, it would only be because of judging malpractice. He simply has not done anything meaningful in the fight and Parker has done more work -- even if not doing all that much himself. Wilder missed an uppercut and nearly landed a right after but did connect seconds later. Parker took the shot well, it seemed but that few second stretch was the best of the fight for Wilder. Parker landed a massive right and hurt Wilder badly. Wilder stared th the ref for some reason and Parker came in with a mad flurry, landing several more heavy shots. Wilder's legs were badly wobbled after they were separated but the round came to a close.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:29 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 7: Parker landed a jab as Wilder tried to step in with his own. Parker charged in and landed a few left hands before Wilder tied him up and tried to land a few of his own in close. Wilder missed a big right hand by an inch and as he came forward after, Parker landed an overhand right of his own. Parker again landed that right hand and Wilder seemed momentarily bothered by that shot.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:25 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 6: Wilder continuing to use the "tool" of missed jabs from the outside. Wilder threw a few of his big straight right hands but didn't connect as Parker kept trying to walk him down and launch in with wild overhand rights of his own. Wilder managed to get Parker moving back toward the ropes and threw the right hand and got in a little with the shot. A bit more work in the round for Wilder.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:21 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 5: Parker charged in and connected with a left hand in another blitz. Wilder is too content to stand outside and just watch Parker rather than attack. Parker landed a left hook and just slipped inside of Wilder return fire. Parker missed with a right hand but continued to be the man actually trying to get work done.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:17 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 4: Parker threw another overhand right that didn't quite get there but Wilder responded with an attempt to let his hands go. Parker tried to work with a big flurry against the ropes and Wilder threw back. Neither man did damage but it was an attempt to get some legitimate work done by both. Parker again threw with Wilder against the ropes. Parker landed a good right hand against the ropes and Wilder was mildly buzzed for a second before trying to fire back.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:13 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 3: More missed shots from both men and a lot of feinting. Parker stepped in with a right hand that nearly landed and Wilder just missed with his own right and an uppercut. Parker did connect with two hard jabs that pushed Wilder back into the ropes. Parker landed a looping right that may have hit the back of the head. Parker may well be up 3-0 in rounds.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:09 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 2: Parker just missed with a huge overhand right as the fight continued to move at an incredibly slow pace as far as offensive output. Both men threw a few jabs that connected in an exchange. Parker knows he has to avoid getting hit with a Wilder bomb and Wilder is waiting for a perfect shot, which is combining to produce a very cautious fight from both men. Parker reached in for a body shot and then missed a jab as the round came to a close.

[Dec 23, 2023 at 5:05 pm ET · Brent Brookhouse]

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker -- Round 1: Wilder came out bouncing and circling while Parker tried to stalk. Wilder pushed out a few jabs more as range-finders than anything. Parker threw his own jab while mostly feinting. Parker landed a good right hand in the last minute of the round. A very, very slow round which Parker may have grabbed by landing just two punches.