Frank Warren highlights huge stakes for Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in ‘Day of Reckoning’ - ‘Real jeopardy’

Frank Warren says there is "real jeopardy" for both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in their ‘Day of Reckoning’ showdowns - live on TNT Sports Box Office.

Joshua and Wilder take part in the co-main events against Otto Wallin and Joseph Parker respectively on Saturday, and Warren says victory for both fighters in Riyadh should set up a highly anticipated heavyweight showdown between the pair.

However, the Queensberry promoter believes both could be putting their careers on the line if either Wallin or Parker spring a surprise in the Saudi capital.

“I think their fights could be a real problem for them,” Warren said in an interview with TNT Sports' Steve Bunce.

“Otto Wallin is coming off a good win against [Murat] Gassiev, a world-ranked fighter. He's only lost one fight and that was to Tyson [Fury]. He gave Tyson a good fight in Vegas. He's a southpaw and this is a tough fight for AJ [Anthony Joshua] that won’t be a foregone conclusion.

“We know AJ can punch; he's changed trainers and it's going to be interesting to see where he goes with that. But the whole dynamic of this is these guys cannot afford to lose.

“If AJ loses this fight, he's really going down the queue. He's got to win it and win it in style. If Wallin beats him, then he gets a seat at the big table next time around.

“The same applies to Deontay Wilder; he's had one fight in two years against Robert Helenius. Joe Parker had a good win last time out in the opening show of the Riyadh season.

"He fancies it, he's Tyson's mate, spars with Tyson and Tyson will be passing on bits of advice to him and one of the things he said when he asked Tyson what he should do was 'don't get hit in the 36 minutes.'

“Wilder is exciting because you can't take your eyes off the screen when he's there because he's so dangerous. As Tyson found out when he fought him.

“These two guys are in real jeopardy. If they come through, they'll definitely meet.”

The backdrop of a potential fight between Joshua and Wilder has dominated much of the hype surrounding the Day of Reckoning card, with the latter speculating on the mindset of the two-time unified world heavyweight champion.

“I see a lot of pressure on him [Joshua]. I see real pressure on him, a lot of frustration. I want to say misery, there’s something weighing on his heart heavy," Wilder told TNT Sports.

“Sometimes as human beings we can lay a lot on a person. How many times, everybody look at him as 'he’s my money-maker for my company' and stuff like that, but how many times those guys say, ‘How you doing today? How you feeling today? Are you alright? I love you.’

“Human beings will use you up, like a cow. They milk you until you don't have no more.

“How many of our greats do we see today, that were amazing fighters, that have done a lot of things for the culture and the business of boxing, and now they look like they don’t have nothing to their name. All they have is the memory of what they used to be like.”

'Day of Reckoning' costs £19.99 in the UK and can be watched through DAZN or TNT Sports Box Office and is available via the DAZN app on Smart TVs, streaming sticks, tablets, laptops and game consoles, Virgin Media TV, Sky and EE TV.

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