Otto Wallin bids to take another step on the road to heavyweight stardom when he faces Dominic Breazeale on Saturday night.
The 30-year-old Swedish star (21-1) gave Tyson Fury all he could handle in a Las Vegas bloodbath in September 2019.
He opened a gruesome cut over Fury’s right eye, bad enough for some judges to wonder if ‘The Gypsy King’ would be able to continue. Eventually Fury prevailed on points, but Wallin emerged with his reputation boosted.
That loss remains the only blemish on his professional record, and he returned from a COVID-induced hiatus to defeat Travis Kauffman easily last August.
Breazeale - twice a world heavyweight title challenger - will present a much stiffer test but Wallin believes he is more than ready.
Otto in a good place
“Training has been going very well. I’m in a good place,” he said.
"Breazeale is a tough customer that’s always in firefights and is entertaining to watch. I believe it’s going to be a good fight.
“I’m pretty sure that he’s going to try and come out and go after me, so I don’t think I’ll have to look for him.
“I’m in great shape. I believe I’ll be able to break him down and take him out.”
Breazeale (20-2) has failed twice at the very highest level, losing convincingly to both Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder in world-title challenges. He has not fought since his defeat by Wilder way back in May 2018.
But the 35-year-old Californian will be a good benchmark to test Wallin’s readiness for another step up.
Breazeale promises pressure
He said: “Camp has been great. I’m working with my new trainer, Abel Sanchez, up in Big Bear. Otto Wallin is going against a big guy who can punch and throws punches in bunches, so he’s going to be in trouble.
“I’m going to bring the pressure from the opening bell until the moment he hits the canvas.”
Saturday’s bout takes place on the undercard of Adrien Broner’s return to ring action against Jovanie Santiago in Uncasville, Connecticut. It will air on Showtime in the United States.