Tyson Fury vs. Otto Wallin: Preview and prediction

Top-rated heavyweight Tyson Fury looks to make a statement against the undefeated Otto Wallin before he deals with Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury (28-0-1, 20 KOs) continues to stay active when he steps into the ring for the second time in 2019 against undefeated heavyweight Otto Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs) on Saturday, Sept. 14. This fight allows Fury to stay busy as he anticipates a rematch with Deontay Wilder in early 2020, but anything can happen in boxing when heavyweights collide.

No one is giving Wallin a chance against Fury. The main issue is that Wallin is an unknown. Fury told FanSided several weeks ago that Wallin was the best opponent he could get to fight him in September. Wallin is undefeated but has faced mediocre talent at best. He’s rated as the 46th best heavyweight in the world by Boxrec.com.

Wallin is a C-level boxer. He lacks amateur experience and accomplished very little at that level. His undefeated professional record is due to safe matchmaking by his team. Despite his lack of accolades, Wallin does possess some ability.

There’s not much film available on Wallin. In the little that exists, Wallin shows some talent. He’s 6-foot-5 but moves well on his feet. He bounces on his toes and is surprisingly agile for a big man.

Wallin’s hand speed is above average for a heavyweight. He throws straight, disciplined punches. Wallin doesn’t hook or throw haymakers. That should serve him well against Fury. Wallin does use some head movement when he attacks, but it’s more for show than practicality. When he’s attacked his head movement disappears.

Although Wallin is athletic, he doesn’t have elite ability in any aspect of his game. He has a 61.9 percent KO rating against less than average opposition. He can’t rely on one punch to take care of Fury. Wallin weighed about 226 pounds in his last fight, which is a good size for his height. He’s not a power puncher, but one surprise punch from a heavyweight can hurt anybody.

According to the Sportsbook Review, betting brokerages have Wallin ranging anywhere from a 10-1 to a 22-1 underdog. The odds are stacked against him, which is why he was selected as Fury’s opponent. Wallin is an adequate boxer that can give Fury some rounds but isn’t a significant threat to pull an upset.

Fury needs to win against Wallin so that he can meet Wilder in their rematch reportedly scheduled for Feb. 22, 2020. Fury’s team wouldn’t risk a massive payday against Wilder to fight a dangerous opponent beforehand. Wallin is a safe bet in their eyes.

The big question is in what manner does Fury defeat Wallin?

The one thing Wallin has going for him is that he’s a southpaw. Historically, southpaws are tricky for orthodox boxers like Fury to figure out. Fury has only seen two southpaws in the last five years. He stopped Joey Abell in 2014 and defeated Francesco Pianeta in 2018 by unanimous decision. Fury looked awful against Pianeta, but it was his second bout after three years away from boxing.

Fury insisted to FanSided two weeks ago that southpaws aren’t a problem for him. Wallin is slightly more talented than Pianeta, but Fury is in much better form today than he was against Pianeta in 2018.

In his last bout, Fury emphatically stopped Tom Schwarz in two rounds. Wallin should give a better performance against Fury than Schwarz. Look for Fury to systematically break down Wallin with his superior boxing skills. Wallin is disciplined but lacks side-to-side mobility. Fury will outmaneuver him using angles to slip in jabs and connect to Wallin’s body.

Fury has respectable power, but he’s not a one-punch KO artist. He won’t turn out Wallin’s lights, but the referee will likely have to save Wallin from absorbing gratuitous damage. Fury should win by TKO in round 7.

You can watch Fury vs. Wallin on ESPN+ on Saturday, Sept. 14. Coverage begins at 11 p.m. ET.