Two heavyweight hopefuls will see action in televised fights on the undercard of the undisputed women’s middleweight world championship fight between Claressa Shields and Christina Hammer.
Promoter Dmitry Salita and Showtime have announced that Jermaine Franklin and Otto Wallin, both of whom have recently signed with Salita, will fight 10-round bouts on April 13 (Showtime, 9 p.m. ET) at the Adrian Phillips Theater at Boardwalk Hall in Atlantic City, New Jersey.
Franklin, who signed with Salita in November, will have his first fight of the deal against Rydell Booker, and Wallin, whose signing took place earlier this week, will face Nick Kisner.
“The heavyweight division is as talented and exciting as ever, and we are thrilled to add two undefeated warriors to the April 13 telecast,” Salita said. “We have the best American heavyweight prospect in Jermaine Franklin and one of the best European heavyweight contenders in Otto Wallin.”
Franklin (17-0, 13 KOs), 25, of Saginaw, Michigan, a pro since 2015, was a standout amateur and a 2014 National Golden Gloves champion. He elected to go pro after that rather than compete for a berth on the 2016 U.S. Olympic team.
“I am ready to show that I am the new man in the heavyweight division,” Franklin said. “Rydell is a good fighte,r but he is in the way of my goal of winning the heavyweight world title.”
Booker (25-1, 12 KOs), 38, of Detroit, was once a promising prospect, but after suffering his first loss, a decision to James Toney in 2004, he went to prison for 12 years and did not box again until 2018. He has three six-round decision wins since returning and also served as a sparring partner for unified titlist Anthony Joshua when he was getting ready to fight Alexander Povetkin in September.
“I’m ready to show my talents on a national stage so everyone will know who Rydell Booker is once again,” Booker said. “I think Jermaine Franklin is a pretty good fighter, but he has never fought anybody with my experience, knowledge in the ring or my ring savvy. I am going to teach him some new lessons on April 13. I have a bag full of goodies and tricks at my disposal that I will teach this young whippersnapper.”
Wallin (20-0, 13 KOs), a 28-year-old southpaw from Sweden, will make his United States debut on the card, although he has spent the past two years conducting his training camps in New York with trainer Joey Gamache.
“To be fighting on such a big card is very inspiring,” Wallin said. “I’ve been dreaming of this moment since I first started boxing at the age of 15. I will put on a good performance on April 13 and introduce myself to the American fans. I will be one step closer towards my goal of winning the heavyweight world title.”
Kisner (21-4-1, 6 KOs), 28, of Baltimore, has won two fights in a row since a fourth-round knockout loss in 2017.
“I’ve dreamt my whole life of one day fighting on national television, and now that the time is here. I’m going to make the most of it,” he said.