OTTO WALLIN was left with a suspected broken nose after his brutal defeat to Anthony Joshua.
AJ produced a brilliant performance despite seeing his highly-anticipated £100m superfight with Deontay Wilder go up in smoke minutes before his own bout.
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The Brit dominated throughout against the Swede before Wallin’s corner pulled him out at the end of the fifth round.
Joshua had rocked Wallin with a ferocious right hand that was followed by a left hook as his opponent’s nose appeared to have burst.
Blood began pouring out of what appeared to be a cut on it, and it is widely-believed that the 33-year-old’s nose was broken.
Medics were then spotted trying to treat the defeated fighter’s face after AJ’s hand had been raised, with another large cut appearing under Wallin’s swollen right eye.
While he was left nursing his wounds, Joshua was also coming to terms with seeing his showdown with Wilder scuppered, which also left fans fuming, after the American’s shock defeat to Joseph Parker in the co-main event.
The American looked a shadow of his former self and was completely outclassed by the New Zealander, who awarded him a 118-111, 118-110 and 120-108 unanimous decision.
The Saudi organisers had already pencilled in the Joshua vs Wilder clash for next year – but those plans are now up in the air after the Bronze Bomber’s loss.
However, AJ still remained upbeat afterwards and refused to rub further salt in his long-term rival’s wounds.
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He said: “Otto is a true warrior. The corner play a huge role so their fighter can live to fight another day. I’m a gifted fighter and I use my gift. I’m searching for greatness.
“I wasn’t watching [Wilder]. I just focused on myself. I know how important it was for me.
“I heard that Deontay lost. So what? He’ll be back.
“Deontay, everything that he said about me, I could rip him apart right now, but I’m going to take the higher ground.
“Look at Dubois this evening, you can come back. If he wanted to, he can come back. I’m sure everyone still wants to see that fight.”
Meanwhile, his promoter Eddie Hearn said that Joshua is most likely going to face Croatia’s Filip Hrgovic for a vacant IBF world title, bidding to become a three-time world champion, instead of Wilder.
He said: “I believe this Anthony Joshua is the best heavyweight in the world. That was a punch-perfect performance tonight. A stunning performance. One that says he is back.
“With this mindsight in this team, I think he is unbeatable. 2024 will be massive for him.
“It was a tough decision between the championship and Wilder. We signed for Wilder, he lost tonight, that’s OK, it happens in boxing.
“Maybe it is a blessing because this guy is about championships. He wants to become a three-time heavyweight world champion. It will be Filip Hrgovic against AJ for the world title.
“I am so happy to see him smiling and performing so well. He is a dangerous man when he is in that kind of mood. 2024 is going to be very interesting, every heavyweight should be on notice – he is back.”
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