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Saturday, 8 February 2025

Boxing Picks 2025- Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin (Saturday 8th February)

There is always some drama or other in Boxing in the lead up to big fights or even announcements, but the Canelo Alvarez situation this week still grabbed more attention than usual.

One minute he was going to be fighting Terence Crawford in September, but just days later the fight was off the table and rumours ramped up that Canelo would be taking on Jake Paul in May instead.

Just as the news was travelling all around the globe and has the criticism of Canelo begun to mount up, another report came out that the Paul fight was not going to happen and Alvarez had signed up for a four fight deal with the Saudi Arabian Riyadh Season.

And just like that, Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford is back on the table for September.

Three of the four fights are rumoured to be taking place in Saudi Arabia, beginning with the showdown in the first weekend in May, although the opponent has yet to be selected for that bout.

Following the fight with Bud Crawford in September, Canelo Alvarez is rumoured to be out in February and November 2026, which means the big Mexican dates in May and September will need a new headline act.


With Canelo Alvarez signed up and Naoya Inoue set to make his Saudi debut in December, there is little doubt that Turki Alalshikh is the leading name in the sport.

Very few of the big names are not under some sort of Riyadh Season banner and Alalshikh's hopes of having a UFC style League is certainly picking up momentum.

It is important to hear promoters like Eddie Hearn still speaking about fights like Dalton Smith vs Adam Azim being put together WITHOUT Saudi backing if only to ensure Boxers and their teams are not pricing themselves out of contests or hoping to be 'overpaid' for every fight they take.

The good news about the approach taken by Turki Alalshikh is that he is not prepared to back fights where the headline acts are not taking risks and actually taking on competitive opponents.

This has been key to putting together some of the big cards we have seen and the upcoming February 22nd event is one that all fans of the sport are looking forward to seeing.

Evem Canelo Alvarez, who some have criticised for choice of opponents in the last couple of years, is set for some big name opponents during his four bout run with Riyadh Season and this can only be good news for fans, even if there is the disappointment of not having some of the bigger events hosted outside of the nation.


In saying that we should soon have announcement of some more events to be run in the United Kingdom and United States and that should appease the fans.

To keep those events going, fans will need to vote with their feet and attend the events that are being put together and it should keep the sport from becoming one that most can only watch on television.


The two cards last weekend were very interesting and David Benavidez has separated from the pack to become the leading contender to face the winner of the Undisputed Light Heavyweight World Title bout coming up in two weeks time.

He has been asked to attend the event and it would not be a surprise to see Benavidez climb into the ring and challenge the winner of the main event in Riyadh.

Stephen Fulton and Adam Azim were impressive in wins that will lead to more opportunities for both- the former is once again World Champion and the latter is continuing to progress in a manner his team are expecting from him.

It was a tougher night for the Boxing Picks, but it is early in the season and there is a long way to go before the story of 2025 is written.

Big cards are yet to come in February and so there are plenty of chances to turn things back around and get back on track.



Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin

It is billed as 'The Last Dance', but the fact Derek Chisora has openly discussed reaching fifty professional fights suggests this is not going to be the last time we see him in a Boxing ring.

However, it is almost certainly going to be the last time Chisora enters a ring in Britain.

For some reason the IBF have declared this an eliminator, even though Martin Bakole and Efe Ajagba are set to fight for that mandatory spot in May. With that in mind, the main event has moved from a Ten Rounder into a Twelve Rounder and there is a big opportunity for both Derek Chisora and his opponent Otto Wallin.

The 'B Side' is well known to British Boxing fans having suffered losses to Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, although Otto Wallin has long felt he deserved the win over Fury when opening up deep cuts on the face of the then World Champion.

His defeat to Anthony Joshua was much more disappointing and Otto Wallin has fought just one competitive Round since that loss in December 2023.

You cannot ignore the fact that Wallin is younger and with far fewer miles on the clock compared with Derek Chisora, while the Swede has a style that should help him contain the threat of the veteran. Fighting out of a southpaw stance with good, solid fundamentals should mean Otto Wallin is able to just steer out of trouble, while he is likely to be the more active of the two fighters to rack up the Rounds.

Derek Chisora has won three of his last four fights, but those have been against Kubrat Pulev, Gerald Washington and Joe Joyce. All are much older and battle worn than Otto Wallin and there is no doubt that Chisora has not looked as sharp as he once did in those victories as his own career winds down.

Some might suggest the judges will lean towards Derek Chisora, but the IBF eliminator attached to the bout should erase that feeling.

Stopping Derek Chisora is not going to be easy, even if the veteran has been there to be hit in recent bouts. He has shown he can get through the Rounds against recent opponents and even the Stoppage loss to Tyson Fury came very late on, while the feeling is that Chisora will be given every chance to hear the final bell in what is expected to be his last fight in the United Kingdom.

Otto Wallin should still be able to outwork the veteran though and this is a big chance for him to get his own career back on track and earn another big shot under the Riyadh Season banner.

The fight might always be easy to watch, but the quality should largely be supplied by Otto Wallin and he may just be given the nod on the cards.

You cannot really dismiss the chance of a late Stoppage, but Wallin may not be willing to risk going for that if he feels he is in control and the Chisora team will want him to complete the Twelve Rounds scheduled.


The undercard features Nathan Heaney who is looking to bounce back after two tough fights against Brad Pauls.

Jack Rafferty should continue moving up through the ranks and his body work could see him secure another Stoppage, perhaps slightly quicker than his last win over Henry Turner.

Experience is on the side of Zak Miller and he should receive plenty of support from the stands, but Masood Abdulah looks to be a really progressive fighter.

He hits plenty hard too and can defend his Commonwealth Featherweight Title and pick up the vacant British Title with his power shining through.

We still have Zach Parker on the card after original opponent Willy Hutchinson had to withdraw with an injury, but the replacement is a tough Boxer who was preparing for a big fight next month.

Mickael Diallo will cause problems and it may be a night where Parker needs to keep his wits about him and just do what is necessary to secure a Points Decision.

MY PICKS: Otto Wallin to Win by Decision/Technical Decision @ 2.75 Paddy Power (1 Unit)
Jack Rafferty Win Between 5-8 @ 2.62 Sky Bet (1 Unit)
Masood Abdulah to Win by KO/TKO @ 2.50 Paddy Power (1 Unit)

Boxing 2025: 3-11, - 8.47 Units (18 Units Staked, + 47.06% Yield)

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