Otto Wallin vs Vladyslav Sirenko

Otto Wallin is 35, Vladyslav Sirenko is 31, and neither man can afford another defeat when they meet over ten rounds at Madison Square Garden on 26 July. Wallin has operated at the higher level, but his losses to Anthony Joshua and Derek Chisora showed that when a strong heavyweight gets on his chest, he can become far too passive. Sirenko carries the bigger dig, with 19 stoppages from 22 wins, but his unbeaten record disappeared against Solomon Dacres when he was asked to solve a composed boxer over ten rounds.

Wallin is the taller, more experienced southpaw, and his best work comes when he controls the distance with the right jab, steps outside the orthodox lead foot and drives the straight left through the middle. He is not a natural tear-up merchant, though. Let him settle, and he can make a heavyweight look clumsy; force him backwards, and he sometimes fights like he is waiting for permission to throw.

Sirenko’s chance is to start quickly, thump the body and make Wallin uncomfortable before the Swede establishes his rhythm. The Ukrainian cannot follow him around in straight lines, because Wallin will turn him, nick rounds and make him reset. Sirenko needs educated pressure, not just a big right hand launched from the cheap seats.

I expect a few hairy moments early on, but Wallin has seen far more and possesses a cleaner boxing brain. He will frustrate Sirenko, take the sting out of him and gradually take command.

Wallin wins by unanimous decision after ten rounds.