For heavyweight contender Travis Kauffman(32-3, 23 KOs), it’s now or never. Kauffman, who will turn 35 next week, has an excellent opportunity to make some noise in the heavyweight division when he battles Otto Wallin(20-1, 13 KOs) on Saturday night at Mohegan Sun Arena in Uncasville, Connecticut(Showtime).
In the main event, David Benavídez(stripped of title after failing to make weight) will battle former world title challenger Alexis Angulo.
Kauffman last fought in December 2018 when he lost to Luis Ortiz by 10th-round TKO. After the fight, Kauffman had shoulder surgery, which kept him out of the ring.
Against Wallin, Kauffman will be without his trainer Naazim Richardson, who passed away in July. His father, Marshall, will now train him. According to Kauffman, not having Richardson in his corner will be a challenge, but at the same time, it has given him extra motivation to beat Wallin.
“My life has always been full of challenges,” Kauffman said on a video call this week. “With every fight and every camp, there have been challenges. With the passing of Brother Naazim Richardson, who I’ve known since I was nine and who’s trained me for the last six years, it hurt. I didn’t expect him to pass away because he’d already overcome so much. It truly hurt me, but it also motivated me. I was unable to leave training camp because all I could think about was that Brother Naazim would not have let me leave. He was truly a great mentor to me..
“The passing of Brother Naazim has been a motivator these last couple of weeks, especially. I kept hearing Brother Naazim’s voice in my head, and it’s helped push me through the toughest days and made me even more motivated heading into this fight.”
Beating Wallin won’t be easy for Kauffman. Wallin, who fought Tyson Fury in September 2019, nearly defeated the “Gypsy King” when he opened up a gruesome cut over Fury’s right eye. However, Kauffman believes he has the tools to beat Wallin.
“I have everything on the line because I know I have what it takes to beat Wallin,” Kauffman said. “His claim to fame is losing to Tyson Fury. That’s all they know him for. I won’t take anything away from him, but he’s trying to prove that it wasn’t a fluke. It’s my job to stop him, and I believe I have what it takes to do that.
“I’ve seen some flaws from Wallin, and I’ve seen him do some great things. He’s got youth on his side, but I have the experience. I’ve been doing this for almost 20 years. I’ve been in there with some of the best heavyweights in the world. I don’t underestimate anybody in the ring. I’m coming here to bang and may the best man win. I believe I’m the better man.”
If he can pull off the victory, Kauffman, who had stated numerous times, he would retire if Wallin gets the win, will have bigger opportunities out there, and he knows it.
“I always want to make a statement, but winning is the number one statement,” Kauffman said. “No matter how I win, I have to win. I don’t want to look good and lose. I can’t lose. I want to win and get another big opportunity.”
Leave a Reply