OTTO WALLIN is ready to step in and fight Anthony Joshua if Oleksandr Usyk is out of the equation.
Usyk dethroned AJ of the WBA, IBF and WBO unified titles with a 12-round masterclass last September.
Otto Wallin, who fought Tyson Fury in 2019, is ready to step in and fight Anthony Joshua
Oleksandr Usyk beat Anthony Joshua in September and was set for a rematch
The pair are signed to an immediate rematch but the Ukrainian, 35, has bravely taken up arms to defend his nation in the war against Russia.
Joshua, 32, has respected Usyk’s situation which could see their rematch shelved.
And both he and promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed they will be open to an interim bout in the meantime if needed.
It leaves a thin list of potential southpaw substitutes, but Wallin’s promoter Dmitriy Salita has already put his name forward to Hearn.
And the Swede believes he resembles Usyk far more than lefties Charles Martin, who AJ has already beaten, or Cuban Luis Ortiz, 42.
Wallin, 30, told SunSport: “I think if you look at us three, I’d be the best option.
“I had that really good fight with Fury, sent him to the hospital with 47 stitches and was probably Fury’s hardest fight so far.
“If you look at Usyk and you’re trying to find someone that’s similar to him, obviously I’m the best option.
“They know that I’m interested in the fight and I want the fight.”
Wallin went from unknown European contender to giving Fury the fright of his life in September 2019.
And had it been any other opponent in the opposite corner that night, the gruesome gash suffered in round three could have finished the fight.
Wallin was eventually beaten by Fury – though his stock skyrocketed as he emerged as a legitimate heavyweight contender overnight.
That performance has, however, marked him out as a risky opponent for high-profile fighters, Joshua included.
Wallin said: “The only issue with this fight is that I might be too much of a risk for them. I’d have a good chance of beating him.
Otto Wallin lost to Tyson Fury in 2019 but gave him a big fright
Tyson Fury was left with 47 stitches after fighting Otto Wallin
“Before I fought Fury, no one really knew about me or thought that I’d do anything in that fight.
“But after that fight, I really showed that I belong on that level and that I can handle myself. That fight has been more of a win for me if anything.
“But people are more hesitant to take a fight against me.”
Wallin is not a complete stranger to AJ, with them fighting twice in the amateur ranks.
Joshua also recruited him as a southpaw sparring partner before he knocked out Martin, 35, in 2015, his crowning night.
It leaves AJ knowing first hand what Wallin will offer in the ring and for the paying fans.
Wallin said: “We had two fights in the amateurs which were wars, could have got either way, he won two decisions.
“But they were good fights and that would be a reason for him to look at it and say, ‘Hey, this would be a really good fight’.
“It would be entertaining, I’m a worthy opponent and a good fight for him.”
Anthony Joshua recruited Otto Wallin for sparring in 2015
