Artem Dalakian vs Seigo Yuri Akui Preview January 23rd, 2024
Undefeated Artem Dalakian of Azerbaijan will be defending his WBA Flyweight Title for the seventh time when he takes on Seigo Yuri Akui of Japan this Tuesday, January 23rd. The 12-round battle from Osaka, Japan can be seen live in America on ESPN+ with the card getting away at approximately 4am. Dalakian last fought 12 months ago when he edged David Jiminez by a unanimous decision in one of the best fights of 2023. Akui last boxed in February when he shut out Jayson Vayson over 10 rounds.
Dalakian vs Akui Betting Odds
Here are the betting odds from online sportsbook BetOnline.ag (full review here).
- Seigo Yuri Akui +105
- Artem Dalakian -135
My Pick
Dalakian is now 36 years and his career has somewhat flown by under the radar but he’s one of the best flyweights out there. He enters the contest with a perfect mark of 22-0 with 15 Ko’s and has boxed 144 rounds since making his pro debut in 2012. He had a pretty good amateur career and fights out of Ukraine. Dalakian won the vacant WBA Flyweight Title via a unanimous decision over Brian Viloria in February, 2018 and has defended it six times.
Those defences came against Sirichai Thaiyen, Gregorio Lebron, Sarawut Thawornkham, Josber Perez, Luis Concepcion and David Jiminez with just the Perez and Jiminez fights going the distance. Before winning the world belt against Viloria, Dalakian captured the vacant WBA Continental Flyweight Crown via a unanimous decision over Angel Moreno in July 2015 and defended it four times. He also won the vacant WBA International Flyweight Title in 2013 and defended it once.
Dalakian stands just over 5-feet-4-inches tall with a 64.5-inch reach and has plenty of power in his fists for a lighter boxer with a current knockout ratio of 68.2 per cent but has gone the distance in two of his past three contests. He hasn’t really been that active over the past few years though and may have some ring rust to battle through. While Dalakian hasn’t always taken on the elite of the division, he’s a solid pro with the power, speed and energy to stop just about anybody in his division.
As for Akui, he’s 28 years old and will climb through the ropes with a mark of 18-2-1 with 11 Ko’s. He’s just half-an-inch shorter than the champion and unfortunately has an unlisted reach. Akui made his pro debut in 2014 as a teenager and has 87 rounds of experience under his belt since. His first pro defeat came at the hands of former world champion Junto Nakatani in 2017 when he was stopped in the sixth round and was also halted in his second loss when Jaysever Abcede beat him in the eighth and final round just two fights later in October, 2018.
The lone draw on Akui’s record came against Seita Ogido over four rounds in his third pro outing in 2014. He captured the vacant Japanese Flyweight Title in 2019 by stopping Shun Kosaka in just 136 seconds and has defended it three times. As far as power is concerned, Akui has enough of it as 61.1 per cent of his wins have come by stoppage but has gone the distance in his last two fights and in three of the past four. Other than Nakatani, Akui has faced limited opposition as a pro and will be stepping up in class again against Dalakian.
Prediction…
Dalakian is a solid veteran with plenty of power and certainly isn’t afraid to let his hands go. Both of Akui’s defeats have come by stoppage but he does have a bit of an edge by fighting in his homeland and is eight years younger than the champion. This should should be an entertaining and interesting fight as Akui could pose some problems for the champ but Dalakian should prevail due to his non-stop punching style of fighting.
Dalakian’s power and experience should be the difference makers.
Play Dalakian -135 @ BetOnline.ag
Check out my recent boxing betting picks to see my current form.
Artem Dalakian betting • Seigo Yuri Akui betting