The finish gave Sirenko (23-1, 20 KOs) a signature victory in his first appearance under the Zuffa Boxing banner. Wallin (28-4, 16 KOs) suffered one of the most devastating knockouts of his career.
For much of the fight, neither heavyweight appeared close to producing such a sudden ending. They traded willingly from the opening round, spending long stretches working at close range. Sirenko consistently targeted the body and often forced Wallin backward with his aggression.
Wallin, 35, relied on his experience to keep the fight competitive. The Swedish southpaw used subtle footwork to create punching angles, landed accurate counters, and gradually opened swelling beneath Sirenko’s right eye. His cleaner punching allowed him to bank several rounds as the bout reached the middle stages.
The pace remained high despite obvious fatigue setting in during the closing rounds. Sirenko continued pressing the action even after showing signs of exhaustion, while Wallin matched him with determined exchanges that kept the outcome in doubt entering the final minute.
With only a second remaining before the final bell, Sirenko uncorked a straight right that snapped Wallin’s head back before immediately following with a left hook. The combination landed flush and left Wallin unconscious as he crashed to the canvas, ending the contest without the need for a count.
The knockout instantly became one of the standout finishes of the year and capped a bout that had looked destined for the scorecards. Instead, Sirenko walked away with the highlight-reel finish, while Wallin left the ring receiving medical attention after the brutal final sequence.
Read the full article here
