Facts about Otto Wallin ahead of clash with Anthony Joshua
Swedish southpaw Otto Wallin (26-1-0-1NC, 14KO) clashes with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia on December 23 on what is set to be the biggest card of the year.
So, even though fight fans are familiar with Wallin after his epic clash with Tyson fury in 2018, it's AJ who he has a bigger and longer-lasting rivalry with, so BBN decided to dig up some interesting facts on the Scandinavian ahead of the festive fight night.
Einar Otto Wallin was born on November 21, 1990, and grew up in a small town in Sweden, Sundsvall, where boxing was banned until 2007.
He started boxing as an amateur, aged 15, winning his first amateur tournament shortly afterwards in 2008 – the Swedish beginner championship, which resulted in the youngster landing a coveted place on the Swedish national team.
His amateur record was 37-12.
His biggest inspiration is Olympic silver medallist and world heavyweight champion Ingemar Johansson, also from Sweden. Otto plans to follow in the footsteps of his heroic countryman, claiming that: “He was the baddest man on the planet!”
Wallin lost twice on points to Anthony Joshua in the amateurs. Both boxers were inexperienced in their first fight together, having only had less than 20 bouts at the time. Firstly Otto lost to Anto in the 2010 Haringey Box Cup in London, then again shortly afterwards in a Sweden vs England dual match in January 2011.
He defeated Frazer Clarke in the amateurs with a wide points score of 32-11 in a Sweden vs England dual match in 2012.
Wallin turned professional at the age of 22, in 2013. He trained under Torsten Schmitz for six months in Berlin, Germany, then moved to Copenhagen, Denmark, where he met former two-weight WBA world champion Joey Gamache, who became his trainer. Wallin followed Gamache to New York after Gamache left Denmark.
AJ has brought Wallin in as a sparring partner for his training camps as a professional.
On the subject of Anthony Joshua, Otto Wallin threw his name in the hat to fight the unified champion when Jarrell Miller withdrew, after failing three drug tests ahead of their scheduled June 1 fight in New York. He asked for the fight, but Andy Ruiz Jr got the golden ticket instead.
Wallin is a southpaw who stands at 6’5” with a 78” reach.
He is world ranked at WBC #14 / IBF #2 / IBO #16 / WBO #7 / IBO #19.
He is managed by Zachary Levin and promoted by Dmitriy Salita, both from New York.
He has stopped Irineu Beato Costa Junior (who has also lost to Dillian Whyte, David Price and Joseph Parker) and beaten Raphael Zumbano (who has lost to Joshua and Ruiz Jr).
Wallin’s first career highlight was in April 2018 when he outpointed his countryman Adrian Granat for the EBU European Union heavyweight title. His next was in his last fight, defeating former unified cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev to win the WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title in September this year.
His US debut in April against Nick Kisner ended in a no contest when his opponent was cut in the first round. Wallin then planned to fight BJ Flores last month, who was not ‘medically cleared to compete’ just days before their scheduled bout.
He lists ‘The White Rhino’ Dave Allen as a British fighter he rates highly and would like to fight someday.
Roll of Honour – Amateur
2009 Swedish Youth National Championships bronze medal
2009 Ruska Tournament champion
2010 Swedish National Championships silver medal
2010 Haringey Box Cup silver medal
2010 Ruska Tournament silver medal
2011 Swedish National Championships bronze medal
2011 Nordic Championships silver medal
2011 Algirdas Sockikas champion
2011 Haringey Box Cup champion
2011 Riga Open Tournament champion
2011 Tammer Tournament silver medal
2012 Gee-Bee Tournament champion
Professional
WBA Continental heavyweight title
Swedish heavyweight title
European Union heavyweight title
WBA Inter-Continental heavyweight title
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