Otto Walling’s career was largely defined by one fateful night.
Nearly five years ago, Sweden’s Volin stepped into the ring with Tyson Fury at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas and gave the once and future heavyweight champion the toughest fight of his career. of a game. Fury walked away with a cut to his eye and was badly shaken, but also won a unanimous decision.
Now, with a record of 34-1-1 (24 KOs), Fury prepares for a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk, 22-0 (14 KOs), on Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. , Wallin couldn’t help but reflect on his own experiences in the ring with the “Gypsy King.”
Wallin, 27-2 (15 KOs), is currently training in New York and preparing for his big fight. He will face Derek Chisora on February 8 at the Co-op Live Arena in Manchester, England. What he learned from his fight with Fury (his first major opponent) still haunts him.
“As everyone can see, he’s a clumsy guy,” Wallin, 34, said of Fury. “He’s big, but he’s a very good boxer. The lesson I took from our fight is that he adjusts well. In the first half of the fight, I had a lot of success. But in the second half, he found out I mean and he’s very good at making changes in the fight.”
As for what he thinks about Fury approaching Usyk in the rematch? Walling admits it’s hard to predict.
“I don’t know. He might come out boxing, or he might try to be aggressive,” Walling said. “Honestly, I’m not even sure he knows.”
Wallin also shared his thoughts on Usyk, who despite starting his career at lightweight, has still impressed at heavyweight.
“I think Usyk probably gained a lot of confidence from the first fight,” Wallin said. “He’s a very smart, very good fighter. I also feel like he’s getting stronger. I thought he hurt Fury in the first fight.”
While the world’s attention is on Fury and Usyk, Wallin is focused on his mission. His opponent is the experienced Chisora, a 40-year-old veteran with a record of 35 wins and 13 losses (23 KOs). Chisora, who recently defeated Joe Joyce, still poses a threat and Wallin knows the stakes.
“What I gained from fighting Fury was experience,” Wallin said. “Just going 12 rounds against the best and going through the whole process of a big fight. It taught me a lot. Since then, I’ve had some good moments and some tough moments, but all These are learning experiences. I feel like I’m ready for this fight.”
For Wallin, every fight is another step toward his ultimate goal. After losing to Anthony Joshua last year, a win over Chisora could open the door to greater opportunities in major fights – something he’d be delighted with.
“I think it’s awesome,” Walling said. “Growing up, I dreamed of a fight like this and now I’m achieving it. I’m proud of what I’ve achieved but now it’s about getting ready, winning this fight and hopefully winning after that A bigger victory.”
Lucas Ketelle is an honorary member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the author of Inside the Boxing Ropes (available on Amazon). Contact him via X @LukieBoxing.
