AJ'S NEXT FOE: HEARN DROPS BOMBSHELL, BUT IS IT THE FIGHT WE WANT?

Right, listen up, fight fans. The rumour mill's been spinning faster than a prime Naz Naseem, but now the word's out from the horse's mouth, or rather, from Eddie Hearn's. Our own Anthony Joshua, the Watford colossus, looks set to tangle with Otto Wallin in Saudi Arabia this December. SPORTbible broke the news, and it's got the boxing world buzzing, albeit with a few raised eyebrows.

Wallin, remember him? The Swede who gave Tyson Fury a proper scare, cutting him to ribbons back in 2019. He's a tough nut, no doubt, a southpaw with a decent engine. But let's be honest, after the G-Wagon debacle with Whyte falling through, and the clamour for a Wilder showdown, is Wallin truly the dance partner we've been craving for AJ? This isn't exactly a repeat of the Lennox Lewis vs. Mike Tyson mega-fights, is it?

Hearn's playing a shrewd game, mind. This is a tune-up, a chance for AJ to keep momentum, stay active, and bank a tidy sum. But the true test, the one that defines legacies like Calzaghe or Benn Sr, still feels like it's on the horizon, not directly in front of us. Wallin's a solid professional, but he's no Deontay Wilder. The fight game's a business, we know that, but sometimes you just want to see the best fight the best. Let's hope this is just a stepping stone to the fireworks we're all desperate for.