Best bets for Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin 🥊
Best bets for Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin
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Elton John performed at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last Friday night, and I wonder if he performed one of his old classics, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"? It would be fitting, as another Englishman is performing at the same venue this Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+), and for him the night certainly will be all right for fighting.
It is a clash of unbeaten fighters as Tyson Fury, the lineal world heavyweight champion, makes his third successive stateside outing and faces Otto Wallin, who hails from Sweden.
Although both men are unbeaten, there is a gulf in the classes in which both have been operating. Fury, with 28 wins and a draw on his log (20 by stoppage), has been in the ring with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, Steve Cunningham and Dereck Chisora. His 6-foot-9 height and albatross-like 85-inch reach makes him an awkward prospect for anyone in the heavyweight division. Fury uses his advantages well, controls distance, and his speed with his hands and feet for a man of his considerable size is impressive. His critics might say he has a negative approach, but he always gets the job done. And that job is winning. This fight with Wallin is seen as a tune-up, as Fury has his eyes firmly fixed on a rematch with Wilder, who held him to a controversial draw nine months ago.
This is a huge opportunity and no doubt a decent payday for Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs). However, there are many who are a little mystified as to how he gets this opportunity, as his record says he has not fought anyone near the level required to have earned this shot at the big time. He is a big guy at 6-5, but he is going to be outreached by a full seven inches and will give at least 20 pounds in weight to Fury. Along with the physical disadvantages is also the gulf in ability. The highest fighter in the Boxrec.com ratings Wallin has faced is Osborne Machimana, who ranked No. 198, and Wallin labored to a points victory over a guy who was 37 at the time and weighed almost 300 pounds. On the footage I have seen, Wallin looks slow, is open to a right hand, and I have to question if he is any better than Fury's last opponent, Tom Schwarz, whom Fury dispatched in two rounds back in June.
The records throw up some interesting stats. In Fury's 29 fights, 16 of his 20 stoppage wins have ended by Round 5, and all of Wallin's 13 stoppage wins have been before the end of the fifth round. So in 49 combined fights between them, 59% are over in five rounds.
As far as forecasting what is going to happen, I am struggling to see this as a real contest. I have no doubt Fury is going to win. The question is how. We know that Fury can be cagey, but he generally fights that way when facing dangerous men, and Wallin is not going to present him danger. There are times when Fury showboats when he has things going his way, but he knows there is too much at stake, and he will want to get this over and done with as quickly as possible. I see a decisive win for the Gypsy King, and it should be over by the midway point.
Pick: I like under 7.5 rounds, at odds of -135 or better (Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook)
What the industry insiders/experts are saying
"A majority of boxers today need defense; they don't know how to slip or counter. Tyson Fury's defense is moving in all different directions, and that makes him vulnerable. I haven't seen his opponent, but his record makes me think he is there to lose. Easy victory for Fury."
Tim Witherspoon, former WBC and WBA heavyweight champion
"Fury is a freak of nature. His size is his main asset, and I don't expect him having any difficulty with Wallin on Saturday night. Early to mid-rounds stoppage."
Fres Oquendo, two-time world heavyweight title challenger
"Is there really a chance that Fury will lose? This is an easy one while he waits for something more meaningful."
Montell Griffin, former WBC light-heavyweight champion
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Elton John performed at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas last Friday night, and I wonder if he performed one of his old classics, "Saturday Night's Alright for Fighting"? It would be fitting, as another Englishman is performing at the same venue this Saturday (7:30 p.m. ET on ESPN+), and for him the night certainly will be all right for fighting.
It is a clash of unbeaten fighters as Tyson Fury, the lineal world heavyweight champion, makes his third successive stateside outing and faces Otto Wallin, who hails from Sweden.
Although both men are unbeaten, there is a gulf in the classes in which both have been operating. Fury, with 28 wins and a draw on his log (20 by stoppage), has been in the ring with the likes of Wladimir Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, Steve Cunningham and Dereck Chisora. His 6-foot-9 height and albatross-like 85-inch reach makes him an awkward prospect for anyone in the heavyweight division. Fury uses his advantages well, controls distance, and his speed with his hands and feet for a man of his considerable size is impressive. His critics might say he has a negative approach, but he always gets the job done. And that job is winning. This fight with Wallin is seen as a tune-up, as Fury has his eyes firmly fixed on a rematch with Wilder, who held him to a controversial draw nine months ago.
This is a huge opportunity and no doubt a decent payday for Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs). However, there are many who are a little mystified as to how he gets this opportunity, as his record says he has not fought anyone near the level required to have earned this shot at the big time. He is a big guy at 6-5, but he is going to be outreached by a full seven inches and will give at least 20 pounds in weight to Fury. Along with the physical disadvantages is also the gulf in ability. The highest fighter in the Boxrec.com ratings Wallin has faced is Osborne Machimana, who ranked No. 198, and Wallin labored to a points victory over a guy who was 37 at the time and weighed almost 300 pounds. On the footage I have seen, Wallin looks slow, is open to a right hand, and I have to question if he is any better than Fury's last opponent, Tom Schwarz, whom Fury dispatched in two rounds back in June.
The records throw up some interesting stats. In Fury's 29 fights, 16 of his 20 stoppage wins have ended by Round 5, and all of Wallin's 13 stoppage wins have been before the end of the fifth round. So in 49 combined fights between them, 59% are over in five rounds.
As far as forecasting what is going to happen, I am struggling to see this as a real contest. I have no doubt Fury is going to win. The question is how. We know that Fury can be cagey, but he generally fights that way when facing dangerous men, and Wallin is not going to present him danger. There are times when Fury showboats when he has things going his way, but he knows there is too much at stake, and he will want to get this over and done with as quickly as possible. I see a decisive win for the Gypsy King, and it should be over by the midway point.
Pick: I like under 7.5 rounds, at odds of -135 or better (Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook)
What the industry insiders/experts are saying
"A majority of boxers today need defense; they don't know how to slip or counter. Tyson Fury's defense is moving in all different directions, and that makes him vulnerable. I haven't seen his opponent, but his record makes me think he is there to lose. Easy victory for Fury."
Tim Witherspoon, former WBC and WBA heavyweight champion
"Fury is a freak of nature. His size is his main asset, and I don't expect him having any difficulty with Wallin on Saturday night. Early to mid-rounds stoppage."
Fres Oquendo, two-time world heavyweight title challenger
"Is there really a chance that Fury will lose? This is an easy one while he waits for something more meaningful."
Montell Griffin, former WBC light-heavyweight champion