Salita Promotions Has Otto Wallin and Jarrell Miller, 2022 The Heavyweight Wild Cards
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
Promoter Dmitriy Salita and Salita Promotions has two of the most underestimated top heavyweights in the world under his banner, Jarrell ‘Big Baby’ Miller of the United States, and Otto Wallin of Sweden. These two dark horse heavyweights remain somehow at the top of the heavyweight pack in 2022.
Miller, 23-0-1 with 20 knockouts, Brooklyn, New York, will return to action in the Summer of 2022 after suspension and 42 months of layoff. Wallin, 23-1 with 14 knockouts, New York City by way of Sundsvall, Sweden, whose only loss was a 12 round decision to Tyson Fury in September 2019 in which Fury got 47 stitches due a cut over his right eye, is good to go after a decision win in November 2021.
Wallin and Miller are ready, willing and able to take on Michael Hunter, Tyson Fury, the winner of Oleksandr Usyk versus Anthony Joshua II rematch, Filip Hrgovic, Andy Ruiz Jr., Luis Ortiz, Joe Joyce, Robert Helenius, Deontay Wilder, the winner between Trevor Bryan and Daniel Dubois, Dillian Whyte, Joseph Parker, Dereck Chisora, Frank Sanchez and Tony Yoka, or any of the other rising heavyweight contenders and prospects.
The story regarding Wallin and the soon to be active again Miller is none of the competing major promoters truly wants to risk a loss by fighting either Wallin or Miller, whose greatest value is more for being a late substitute than serious challenge. Wallin and Miller are dangerous enough no major promoter wants to risk their fighters against Miller or Wallin when push comes to shove. Therefore, Charles Martin, Adam Kownacki, Carlos Takam, and a second tier of names might be more applicable for Wallin and Miller until a major regional or world title bout is offered.
Tyson Fury, if he gets by Whyte, will want the winner of Joshua versus Usyk II to unify the world heavyweight title in a final megabout. After that, if it occurs, the different world heavyweight belts could be up for grabs if Fury wins and retires. If Usyk wins over Joshua in the rematch, and then defeats Fury or whoever else to unify the title, Usyk will take on all challengers. The question regarding Usyk is if he leaves the battlefront of Ukraine to fight again, how clear a mind will he have, given Victor Postol’s recent loss. The crisis in Ukraine could be an uplifting inspiration, or not, depending on the fighter’s interpretation of current events and how the Ukraine fighter views his or her situation. In any case, the boxing world will be looking keenly at Wallin and Miller’s performances in 2022.
English