Arslanbek Makhmudov vs Michael Wallisch Preview December 16th, 2022
Hard-hitting unbeaten prospect Arslanbek Makhmudov of Russia will be defending his North American Boxing Association and NABF Heavyweight Titles in Shawinigan, Quebec, Canada this Friday, December 16th against Michael Wallisch of Germany. The 10-round bout is scheduled to be shown in America on ESPN+. Makhmudov was last in action in September when he beat Carlos Takam via a 10-round unanimous decision to defend the NABA and NABF Belts and win the vacant WBC Silver Heavyweight Belt. Wallisch last boxed in May when he stopped Toni Thes in the second round.
Makhmudov vs Wallisch Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Michael Wallisch +1600
- Arslanbek Makhmudov -5000
My Pick
The 33-year-old Makhmudov fights out of Montreal and makes the ring walk with a perfect record of 15-0 with 14 Ko’s. There’s no denying his power as he owns a highly-impressive 93.3 per cent knockout ratio with Carlos Takam being the only man to last the distance with him and go past the seventh round as well. In fact, 10 of his stoppages have come in the very first round. Makhmudov made his pro debut in 2018 and has just 38 rounds under his belt since due to his knockout record.
Before turning pro, he had a fine amateur career and also fought in the World Series of Boxing. Makhmudov stands just over 6-feet-5-inches tall with an unlisted reach . So far, the biggest wins of his career have been against Takam, Pavel Sour, Jason Bergman, Jonathan Rice, Samuel Peter, Erkan Teper and Mariusz Wach. Since turning pro he’s also captured the WBC Continental Americas Heavyweight Crown.
Wallisch is now 37 years old and will climb through the ropes with a mark of 23-5 with 16 Ko’s. He’s just over 6-feet-5-inches tall with a reach of 77 inches so has half-an-inch edge in height on Makhmudov. Wallisch made his pro debut in 2010 and has boxed 116 rounds since. He had a brief amateur career of about 30 fights and won the German International Heavyweight Title in 2011.
All five of Wallisch’s losses have come in his last nine outings since 2018 and he’s been stopped in each one of them. He was halted by Christian Hammer in the fifth round in December, 2018 then stopped by Efe Ajagba in the second round four months later and then suffered a third-round defeat to Tony Yoka five months after that. He was also stopped by Joe Joyce in the third round in July, 2020 and in the fourth round by Murat Gassiev in July of last year in a shot at the vacant WBA Asia Heavyweight Title.
Wallisch obviously doesn’t own the sturdiest chin in the sport and as far as power goes he carries around a current knockout ratio of 57.1 per cent. Since turning pro, Wallisch has captured the Global Boxing Union World Heavyweight Title, the WBO European Heavyweight Crown and the German Title. His biggest wins have been against the likes of Kai Kurzawa, Yakup Saglam, Lars Bucholz, Frank Schadwill, Fabio Tuiach, and Ivica Bacurin.
Prediction…
Arslanbek Makhmudov most of the advantages here including age, size, power and chin and this may be seen as a bit of a mismatch, and if not, it’s still not the type of opposition fans want to see him taking on. Wallisch may be able to get a few rounds in but I’m expecting Makhmudov to go to 16-0 with another KO added to his record.
Makhmudov’s power will be the difference.
Play Makhmudov -5000 @ BetOnline.ag
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Arslanbek Makhmudov betting • Michael Wallisch betting