Artem Dalakian vs Seigo Yuri Akui Prediction: the Champ Should Defend the Title

On January 23d in Osaka, a Ukrainian boxer of Armenian origin, Artem Dalakyan, will defend the WBA lightweight title for the seventh time. His challenger is local boxer Seigo Yuri Akui. The fight will go twelve rounds. It was originally scheduled to take place last November, but the tournament was completely canceled.

Artem Dalakian is the second of the Ukrainians who owns the belt of the champion of the prestigious version (the first - Oleksandr Usyk). Dalakian became the champion in 2018. Since then, he has defended the title six times but is guided all the way without too much risk. He has yet to lose a bout in his entire professional career. In his last fight with David Jimenez, Artem defended as usual and technically coped with the power press of his opponent. Dalakian had only two fights outside Ukraine.

The Japanese boxer has two defeats and one draw in his career and does not have super skills. This is a pretty tough guy, but not championship-level, and definitely not stronger than some of Dalakian's past opponents. The boxers whom Akui has beaten are all weak Japanese (except for the last one, who is Filipino), and their names won't tell you anything. Seigo Yuri Akui has never fought outside of Japan.

Dalakian has an excellent amateur school that is still paying off for him. He is a technical, intelligent boxer, though not a power fighter - nevertheless, Artem has a decent percentage of early wins. The Ukrainian champion clearly outclasses Seigo Yuri Akui, and unless Dalakian makes some serious mistakes, Akui's chances of winning are slim even considering the "home" scoring.