.png)
WBC # 11-rated heavyweight Otto Wallin (23-1, 14 KOs) will face Sweden's own Rydell Booker in Detroit. 26-5-1, 13 KOs) Thursday, May 26 at the Lincoln Ballroom at the Ford Community and Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan. Salita Promotions' special Memorial Day Weekend and Kick of Detroit Brawl event includes 10 rounds of heavyweight event
The 31-year-old Wallin made world headlines and made headlines in 2019 when he fought a thrilling battle with linear world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and came very close to scoring a memorable stoppage upset. Unknown and then a 10-1 underdog, Wallin quickly took the fight to Fury and stunned the superstar Englishman with 47 stitches in the third round. What followed was a nail-biting battle of back and forth, which Fury finally won through a close, controversial unanimous decision.
Wallin now lives and trains in New York under the tutelage of Joey Gamache, the famous Division Two champion in Mendes Boxing. He won the EBU EU Heavyweight title in April 2018 with a 12-round unanimous victory over Adrian Grant, and also hosted the WBA Continental Heavyweight Championship. Wallin was last seen making a unanimous decision on Polish veteran Kamil Sokolowsky in February this year.
Inactive for more than a decade, in 2018, Rydell Booker won three return bouts before losing to the undefeated heavyweight Jermaine Franklin in a 10-round televised decision. As an amateur, Booker was ranked number one in the heavyweight division in the United States, winning the Michigan State and Regional Championships each year from 1992 to 2000, and his first national title in 1999.
A competent boxer with excellent counter-punching skills, Booker competed against all-time great James Tony for the IBA World and WBC Continental America Heavyweight Championships and lost in 2004 by a 12-round decision.
On the undercard, emerging super welterweight powerhouse Marlon Harrington (7-0, 6 KO's) will appear in an eight-round showdown, as will fast-tracking former national amateur champion and undefeated professional middleweight Joseph Hicks Jr. ( 1-0, 1 KO) Grand Rapids vs. Michigan Six Round.
Fighting in the Sporting Bouts will be Michigan's all-time undefeated prospect, including Dearborn super welterweight Hussam al-Mashhadi (3-0, 3 KO) as well as the lightweight Ferris Dixon Jr. (2-0, 1 KO). Includes invincible. Super welterweight weight Davell Smith (2-0, 2 KO's), both Detroit.
All opponents will be announced shortly and all bouts are subject to change
Otto Wallin vs. Rydell Booker
Lincoln Ballroom of the Ford Community & Performing Arts Center in Dearborn, Michigan, USA – 26 May 2022
