Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing signs Otto Wallin who gave Tyson Fury horror cut and 47 stitches

Swedish heavyweight Otto Wallin has signed with Zuffa Boxing.

The 35-year-old from Sundsvall contemplated retirement after suffering a punishing loss to Derek Chisora in February 2025.

Mark Robinson/Matchroom

Wallin was dropped twice and lost wide on points at Manchester’s Co-Op Live Arena.

But after much deliberation, he returned to the ring last November to blow away the overmatched Chris Thomas inside two rounds in Atlantic City.

Wallin will now look to continue rebuilding his career under Dana White‘s upstart promotion.

Taking to Instagram on Thursday to announce the news, Wallin wrote: “I’m really excited to have signed with [Zuffa Boxing].

“Big things coming!”

Zuffa’s heavyweight roster already includes former IBF heavyweight champion Charles Martin, two-time Olympic bronze medallist Ivan Dychko, and top-rated contender Efe Ajagba.

Wallin makes a worthy addition to the list and becomes the third fighter in two days to join Zuffa after IBF super lightweight champion Richardson Hitchins and former super middleweight world title challenger Edgar Berlanga crossed over on Wednesday.

Otto Wallin caused Tyson Fury problems

The big Swede nearly pulled off one of the biggest upsets of the decade in 2019 when he met Tyson Fury in what was supposed to be a tune-up fight for a rematch with Deontay Wilder.

In the third round, a cuffing blow from Wallin opened a massive gash above Fury’s right eye, which would later require 47 stitches and plastic surgery to fix.

As the fight wore on, the tricky southpaw targeted the wound, turning Fury’s face into a crimson mess.

Getty Images - Getty

However, some excellent handiwork from Fury’s cutman, Jorge Capetillo, kept him in the fight as the Brit saw off Wallin over the distance.

Wallin’s stock rose considerably in defeat, and a subsequent victory over former unified cruiserweight world champion Murat Gassiev paved the way for a high-profile fight with Anthony Joshua in December 2023.

Unfortunately for Wallin, he was unable to rise to the occasion and was retired on his stool at the end of the fifth round.

Since then, he has beaten two unheralded opponents either side of his loss to Chisora.

Now 28-3 and seemingly a few years removed from his prime, Wallin’s move to Zuffa provides him with one last chance to roll of the dice.

Boxing schedule

For all the upcoming fights and results this year, check out talkSPORT.com’s  boxing schedule.