Otto Wallin batters Dominic Breazeale, wins by wide decision

Big Sweetish heavyweight Otto Wallin, who troubled heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 17 months ago, outworked even bigger Dominic Breazeale to win a 12 round unanimous decision at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Conn Saturday night.

The scores were 116-112, 117-111, and 118-110.

The stage was set in the opening stanza when Wallin, (22-1, 15 KOs) a southpaw, clubbed Breazeale with a combination. He would do this consistently throughout the 12-round affair. Breazeale worked his jab, but looked sluggish. Wallin caught Breazeale with a number of blows in round two.

Breazeale applied more pressure in round three, but ran into a long left. Wallin was letting his hands go more consistently. Breazeale,35, landed a solid right to the body. Wallin kept throwing his jab in round four. Breazeale, who looked slow, connected with a right. Wallin’s advantage in hand and foot speed was obvious.

Wallin kept moving and popping Breazeale in round six. Breazeale’s right eyebrow was swollen, courtesy of solid lefts from Wallin. Breazeale (20-3, 18 KOs) fought back, landing some solid hooks to the ribs. Wallin connected with shots to the liver and head. He landed a counter left in round eight.

Breazeale kept pushing forward. Both heavyweights tattooed each other with punches. Breazeale connected with two good uppercuts.

In rounds nine, 10 and 11, Wallin caught Breazeale with a number of counter blows. Wallin was told by his corner to stay off the ropes. Like Breazeale, he looked tired. In the 12^th and final round, Breazeale tried to land a home run. Wallin blocked most of the blows to cement his win.

“We knew coming in that I had better footwork, better speed, so I wanted to use that,” said Wallin after the fight. “And I’ve got good defense, too. He hit me here and there, but nothing too serious.”