Day of Reckoning preview: Joshua, Wilder, Bivol headline in Saudi Arabia

It's nearly Christmas and boxing fans will get a gift for the holidays when the big fellas square off Dec. 23 at the Day of Reckoning event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Each of the eight fights scheduled for the main card features boxers in one of the three heaviest classes, with six bouts between heavyweights.

The triple main event is a doozy with undefeated light heavyweight champion Dmitry Bivol defending his WBA title against British contender Lyndon Arthur, while Deontay Wilder squares off against Joseph Parker in a heavyweight showdown and former titleholder Anthony Joshua fights Swedish big man Otto Wallin.

Here's a full breakdown of the three main fights ahead of Saturday's big card, which is set to begin at noon ET, with ring walks for the main event - currently listed as Joshua versus Wallin - scheduled for 7:45 p.m.

Dmitry Bivol vs. Lyndon Arthur

It's been a year-and-a-half since Bivol stunned the world with a unanimous decision victory over Canelo Alvarez, thrusting himself into the spotlight as one of boxing's biggest sensations.

The No. 5 fighter on ESPN's pound-for-pound list returns to the ring to take on veteran contender Arthur, whom the WBA ranks eighth among light heavyweights.

Bivol hasn't been very active since beating Canelo, but The Ring's 2022 Fighter of the Year looked terrific last November when he outboxed Gilberto Ramirez on his way to a unanimous decision victory.

Meanwhile, Arthur has already fought twice this year with victories over Boris Crighton and Braian Nahuel Suarez, beating Crighton by unanimous decision before knocking out Suarez in the 10th round in October.

While Arthur may be riding a high from those wins, the closest he's ever come to fighting someone at Bivol's level was his two bouts against Anthony Yarde. Those two last fought in 2021, with Yarde winning.

It's going to take a miracle for Arthur - who comes in as a -1100 underdog - to beat Bivol, but stranger things have happened in boxing.

Deontay Wilder vs. Joseph Parker

One of the most exciting heavyweights in boxing history, Wilder makes his return to the ring Saturday and has a tough test as he continues his ascent toward the top of the division's rankings.

For a short time not too long ago, it looked like Wilder might hang up his gloves after consecutive title fight losses to Tyson Fury, but the 38-year-old put those rumors to rest with a huge first-round knockout of Robert Helenius in October 2022.

Wilder squares off against New Zealand's Parker, a former heavyweight champion in his own right. Parker fights at a much higher level than Helenius and has some big wins under his belt, including two over Derek Chisora and one over Andy Ruiz. He should present a challenge for Wilder, who has looked like a more refined boxer since he took on Mailk Scott as a trainer but still relies on his big right hand to end fights.

This has Fight of the Night potential, even if Wilder enters as a -700 favorite.

Anthony Joshua vs. Otto Wallin

Over the past six years, Joshua has arguably been the biggest star of the heavyweight division, but back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk really took the wind out of his sails.

The 34-year-old has recovered by winning his last two fights against Jermaine Franklin and Helenius, but standing in his way Saturday is Wallin, one of the division's most underrated fighters.

The 33-year-old Wallin has been on a tear since losing to Fury in 2019, winning six straight fights. He will finally get to prove himself against a top contender once again when he takes on Joshua, whom he believes doesn't have the same mental fortitude that he did as champion.

Betting lines might be buying into Wallin's assumptions, too, with the Swede only a +310 underdog despite his opponent being ESPN's No. 4-ranked heavyweight in the world.

Joshua also enters the bout with a new trainer, Ben Davison, in his corner and has struggled against southpaws throughout his career, giving more of an advantage to Wallin.

"I was a little bit surprised. I think that he's got a new trainer, short notice, southpaw again, so I didn't really understand it," Wallin told Boxing Social of Joshua's decision to choose him as an opponent.

"I didn't think they were going to pick me in the end, maybe just offer me the fight and then go with somebody else. I was surprised. I don't think it's the best move. I wouldn't do it if I was him, but I'm happy."

Will we see a big upset? Would a loss end Joshua's career? There's a lot of intrigue here, so keep your eyes glued to this one.

All odds courtesy of theScore Bet.