By Brad Snyder-The Undercard
Photos by Bob Ryder
Heavyweight Otto Wallin returned to action for Salita Promotions Thursday night in Dearborn, Michigan. Wallin is looking to climb in the heavyweight rankings and crack the Top 5. Thursday brought him a tough challenge in Rydell Booker (26-6-1, 13 KOs). The style and weight of Booker would be Wallin’s toughest obstacles leading to his victory. Round one had Booker having some moments with a lunging left. Wallin controlled the first and second rounds. Wallin became frustrated early in the fight with Booker’s clinching style of boxing. In round four, Wallin was able to connect with a big left to Booker’s chin. The southpaw Wallin had his best round in the fifth, catching Booker on the ropes. Booker, who talked to Wallin throughout the fight, could not produce enough offense to threaten Wallin. The ninth and tenth Rounds of the scheduled 10-round bout had Wallin ending strong in the last seconds of those rounds. Booker, who was just too tough, went the distance.
“I knew he (Booker) was going to be dangerous for the first two rounds.. then try to survive. And that’s what he did,” Wallin said, after the fight. The judges saw the fight (99-91, 100-90, 99-91) all in favor of Wallin. The win improves Wallin’s record to (24-1, 14 KOs) as he looks to find bigger fights in the second half of the year.
IBF #4, WBA #13, WBO #11 super lightweight Shohjahon Ergashev (22-0, 19 KOs) easily defeated Luis Alberto Veron (19-4-2, 9 KOs) by UD (79-70, 79-70, 79-70). Ergashev, who did not feel well before the fight, spent Round one feeling out his opponent, Veron. In Round two, Ergashev landed a straight left from southpaw position to knock down Veron. Round five had Ergashev landing a blow to the middle of the stomach of Veron to get the second knockdown of the fight. Ergashev aggressively went for the stoppage, busting up the right eye of Veron. His aggressiveness did earn Ergashev a point deduction for pushing down Veron head in Round eight of the eight-round fight. Ergashev easily won the UD.
Super welterweight Husam Al Mashhadi, and his massive following of fans, wasted no time beating Milton Banks (0-1) by TKO at the 1:26 mark of the 1st Round. Mashhadi landed two massive body shots that sent Banks to the canvas twice. Mashhadi improves to (4-0, 4 KOs).
Joseph Hicks Jr. (2-0, 2 KOs) beat middleweight Bruno Leonardo Romay (21-10, 18 KOs) by KO at 2:12 in the 2nd Round. The most impressive thing of this fight was Hicks’ ability to dominate such an experienced fighter. Round 1 had Hicks establishing the jab. Round 2 scored Hicks his first KO with a left hook body shot. Another right to the body, later in the 2nd finished Romay for the night.
Super welterweight Marlon Harrington (8-0, 7 KOs) got some rounds in with Azael Cosio (21-10-2, 18 KOs). Harrington was all over his opponent in the beginning of the fight. Harrington beat down Cosio over 4 rounds of the scheduled 8-round fight. A right by Harrington to Azael’s head led to a brutal knockout in a neutral corner. The knockout occurred at the 38 second mark of the 4th.
Super lightweight Ferris Dixon (3-0, 1 KO) scored a 2nd Round knockout at the 1:21 mark of the 2nd Round over Daniel Arriaga (2-5-2, 2 KOs). The body shot KO puts Dixon in a great position early in his career.
Super middleweight Da’Velle Smith (3-0, 3 KOs) knocked down Brandon Baue with a short right hand to the side of Baue’s head producing a knockdown early. Smith jumped on his opponent, as soon as Baue stood up, leaving Referee Gerard White no choice but to stop the contest. The 50-second 1st round KO drops Baue to (16-28, 11 KOs).
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Whyte was supposed to fight Otto Wallin before he fought Fury but he stood him up with a fake injury. Wallin would have beat him and then the fight should have been a rematch between Wallin and Fury.
Interesting point. Wallin also clearly looks to have the better jaw compared to Whyte and imo is a better boxer with a higher work rate.
You would have too for 8 million dollars
This is true
And so Wallin lost 8 million. What protection do boxers have in their contracts against that sort of thing? Surely the sheister lawyers who write the contracts must have something in there to protect against one of the parties deciding he can make more money fighting someone else instead after the contract is signed, and then come up with some excuse to get out of the contracted fight, like Whyte did.
Otto wallin is going to maybe need at least 1 more toon up fight before he challenges for hvyweight gold again. I would still pick him to beat 90% of todays heavys
Chisora next for Wallin?
War Chisora?
Honestly if I were a top tier HW Chisora is a guy I would not fight.
Sure he’s beatable but you might have to go through hell. Then of course he’s about as live an underdog as there can be. He’s always capable of the upset. And he has 8 losses? If you lose to him where do you go from there?
I guess what im saying is too much risk too little reward.
There are easier stay busy fights or even top 10 fights for that matter if you’re Wallin.
I remember Booker from damn near 20 years ago. Had some talent and skills. Was being managed very well. But couldn’t keep away from the street life in Detroit.
I don’t understand why fighters do that.
Another guy from Detroit, Octavio Lara, he was poised to be something big in boxing but preferred hanging around gang bangers. Career went nowhere.
Maybe Wallin – Bakole?
That would be great and an interesting matchup, I would favour Wallin over Bakole. But I doubt it will happen anytime soon..
Wallin was robbed against an uninspired Fury but wouldn’t have won if they had fought right after.. Fury is one of the best at making adjustments when in a tough fight or for a rematch like it was the case against Wilder..
Wallin is an option against Fury but I’d prefer Joshua or Usyk as an opponent for Fury.. If not this year, I’m afraid it won’t even happen before Fury retires.
The Fury Wallin fight wasn’t close. It was like 10-2 Fury.