Action Network spoken to Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin (26-2, 14 KOs) in an exclusive interview ahead of his clash with Onorede Ehwarieme (20-4, 19 KOs). Wallin commented on his upcoming fight, predicted Joshua vs Dubois and said that Deontay Wilder needs to put his health first.
Some top-line quotes:
AJ In Five
I think that Dubois and Joshua will be a good fight. If Dubois comes out like he did in his last fight against Hrgovic, he was hit a lot, with one-two’s. You can’t take those shots from Joshua because his punch is very, very hard.
So if he comes out the same way against Joshua, then I think Joshua wins by knockout before round five. But if Dubois has tightened up his defense a little bit and can hit Joshua with a few good shots then it could turn into an interesting fight.
Deontay Wilder Should Put His Health First
It’s just up to him. It’s not up to me or anybody else to tell him to retire or not, but, yes, looking at him, he hasn’t looked the same as he used to. But like I say, it’s up to him. If he wants to fight, then he can fight. If he doesn’t, then he should retire.
He has kids, he’s probably made good money in boxing. So I think right now that he should put his health first and just think everything through and then see what he comes up with.
Ehwarieme Doesn’t Like It When It Starts Getting Tough
In terms of his weakness, Ehwarieme doesn’t like when it starts getting tough – he’s there to be hit and once I put a little pressure on him, he’s not gonna like it.
I just have to be smart because like you say he has a 95% knockout ratio. I’ve got to be aware at all times and and be mindful of his power so I don’t walk into anything.
But it doesn’t change how I train for a fight. I’m always training very seriously and always try to do the best I can in training. But of course defense is always very important. That’s something I’m always working on.
I Would Love To Fight Whyte
I would love to fight Dillian. We were supposed to fight in 2021, actually, and then he pulled out, like, 10 days before saying he had a shoulder problem.
He went out to fight Fury, obviously. But I would love to fight him, and that could be my next fight. I think that’s a really good fight.
That would be perfect, I think, in this situation I’m in now as a free agent.
– I will be attending this club fight card at the Tropicana Casino in AC NJ this Friday.
– The Trop used to be a happening place back in the day with its “The Quarter” which is an outdoor New Orleans-style area.
– Otto Wallin vs Onoriode Ehwarieme is the main event 8 round bout.
– Haven’t heard of any of the undercard fighters before.
– This event got zero promotion and I just happened to stumble upon it a few weeks ago.
– Paid $80, including all-fees, for a dead-center balcony seat.
– Looks like 90% of the seats are still unsold, so I may be slipping into a much more expensive seat.
– Will be taking a half-day off from work to get to the Trop early and check the place out.
– Will be in my seat for the first bout on the card.
This one slipped under the radar. They definitely needed better promotion, or I just missed it. Outside of the local fighters I doubt much anybody would know these fighters. Would be nice to see Ward and thank him for his contribution.
– I forgot that Mickey Ward was going to be there to meet and greet.
– I met Arturo Gatti in 1997 at the AC Convention Center after his 2nd fight w/Tracy Harris Patterson. He was very approachable, and I admired him. Sad the way he left this earth.
I fondly remember Don Elbaum’s cards there. I always wondered why Atlantic City went from a boxing hotbed to nothing.
Probably casinos popping up everywhere had a lot to do with it. Atlantic City had a semi monopoly with Las Vegas when all those good cards were happening.
I believe this – AC always had a unsafe vibe, and when casinos popped up elsewhere, it helped to leave.
Otto gives a good analysis of fights. He has good logic and some behind the scene insight.
Ask Wallin how much he got paid to throw the Joshua fight. He didn’t even try to throw a single punch.