By James Slater: Unbeaten Russian heavyweight Magomed “Mago” Abdusalamov is an exciting 30-year-old who has been turning heads (literally) with his natural, raw punching power. A good amateur who picked up a lot of experience before moving to the U.S where he now lives in Oxnard, the 6’3” approx 230-pounder has romped to a straight 12-0 as a pro, with all the southpaw’s wins coming via KO; ten coming in the very first round.
Okay, Abdusalamov, guided by Sampson Boxing’s Sampson Lewkowicz, has yet to face anything approaching a top contender, but the momentum the Russian has been picking up has attracted the fans. Last time out, in November, “Mago” blasted out the once-beaten, previously unstopped Rich Power. Power, whose only other loss came on points to the hyped Tyson Fury, currently holds the distinction as the only man to take Abdusalamov more than a couple of rounds (Power fell in the 3rd last month).
Next up for Abdusalamov, according to Boxrec.com, will be experienced fringe contender Travis “Freight Train” Walker. The invaluable web site has the fight down as happening in Las Vegas on January 14th. Optimistically scheduled for ten rounds, this match, if it happens, will be Magomed’s stiffest test to date – on paper at least.
Fans are familiar with 32-year-old Walker, 38-7-1(30). The big man from Texas has been in with a number of top names – including Chris Arreola, Johnathon Banks, Ruslan Chagaev and, last time out, the unbeaten Kubrat Pulev – and he has always given a good account of himself. Not blessed with anything approaching a granite chin (Walker has been stopped five times as a pro), Walker has no shortage at all when it comes to guts and courage.
Walker can also bang, and he could be dangerous early on against Abdusalamov. Last time out, in October, Walker took Bulgarian hope Pulev the full 12-rounds, and it will be interesting to see how “Mago” does in comparison to his rival up-and-comer. If Abdusalamov blasts Walker away in double-quick time, he will only add to his excitement value.
We don’t yet know how Abdusalamov’s chin will react if he’s caught with a bomb, and we have no idea how the 30-year-old’s stamina will hold up if he is ever taken into the late rounds of a fight. If he’s on his A-game, Walker may test Abdusalamov to the extent where we get some answers early next year. This one could be a dandy. While it lasts!