Over the last few years the Featherweight division has been a highly interesting division. It's had big named fighters like Yuriorkis Gamboa, Juan Manuel Lopez and Mikey Garcia all passing through it and it's also seen the emergence of Vasyl Lomachenko as a professional. Unfortunately however it's also been a division with titular issues, especially concerning the WBA who have had multiple champions in the division for far too long.
The biggest issue with the WBA at Featherweight is the fact they've had unbeaten Indonesian Chris John as their "Super Champion" yet never forced him to fight a genuine top contender in what feels like a life time. This has left them looking to fill both "regular" and "interim" title positions on a revolving door basis.
Thankfully the WBA seem to have accidentally stumbled on to a very credible, though under the radar, regular champion in the form of exciting Jamaican Nicholas Walters (22-0, 18). Sure the vast majority of fans haven't seen or heard of Walters but those who have will all tell you just how fun he is to watch. He's got explosive power, a decent amateur background and nasty intentions. Sure he's a bit wild but he is the sort of fighter that fans will love.
Rather amazingly Walters hasn't defended his title since he won the title last December. A title he won by destroying Colombian Daulis Prescott, the brother of Breidis Prescott, in 7 rounds. For those who saw that contest they quickly realised what Walters was about. He dropped Prescott in rounds 4,5 and 7 in a contest that should have made the world sit up and take note, though unfortunately with that fight being in Jamaica saw few fans had the chance to see it.
Thankfully this weekend sees many fans getting their first chance to see Walters in action as he travels to the US to take on challenger Alberto Garza (25-5-1-1, 20) live on HBO.
Whilst I've been fortunate enough to see a few of Walters' fights I'll be honest I've not seen many of Garza's.
Aged 28 Garza is a Mexican who at best could be described as a "fringe contender", few, if any, would regard him as top 15 Featherweight though he does hold several noteworthy victories. These include a 9th round TKO in Japan over Hiroyuki Enoki and a 12 round victory over Justin Savi. Unfortunately however those victories both came in 2010 and since then he suffered a stoppage loss to Robinson Castellanos and fought just twice in 31 months, including a 14 month stretch from his last contest.
Garza's inactivity in the past few years has really put the brakes on his career. Whilst the loss to Castellanos was bad at the time it now looks to have been excusable as Castellanos is beginning to look like a legitimate contender himself, though the inactivity is inexcusable.
Prior to his absence from the ring Garza certainly had power. Whilst he may "only" have scored 80% of his victories via T/KO it's worth noting that 4 of his 5 non-stoppage came in his first 10 contests. Since summer 2006 Garza has gone 15-5-1-1 (14) an incredible showing of his power. On the flipside of that however is the fact he has been stopped 3 times. He hits hard but he's also vulnerable.
With both men having serious power this looks like a genuine shoot out on paper. This is a bout that will see the winner make a mark on television audiences and for me it'll be Walters leaving the lasting impression in a bout made to let him make a name for himself. In a shoot out he who lands first tends to win, with 14 months out Garza will look rusty and whilst Walters has been inactive for a year himself he'll certainly feel less "inactive" given the fact he has since been signed up to a deal with Top Rank.
Prediction- Walters TKO4
Showing posts with label Nicholas Walters. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Nicholas Walters. Show all posts
Friday, 8 November 2013
Wednesday, 5 December 2012
Nicholas Walters v Daulis Prescott
Aggressive and fun to watch Nicholas Walters (21-0, 17) gets his first chance to claim a version of a world title as he faces Colombian Daulis Prescott (26-1-0-3, 19) after a political situation saw the WBA Featherweight title become vacant. The WBA title, previous held by Panamanian Celestino Caballero hasn't been defended since December 2011 and the WBA seem to have lost patience with Caballero.
Jamaican Walters is a pretty well kept secret in boxing circles who has only really been seen by the hardcore fans who have made an effort to catch the long cards from Panama (where he has fought 19 of his 21 bouts to date). For those who have managed to see him, they've been treat to a hugely fun to watch, slightly wild but very powerful fighter with a genuinely eye catching style.
Although Walters is somewhat unknown by the vast majority of fight fans he has scored some decent wins, with the most notable of those coming last year against former world title challenger Irving Berry (TKO6). Though of course his record is relatively thin compared to that of many others in and around the Featherweight, he has shown the ability to beat good fighters.
Having been professional since 2008 the 26 year old Walters will be hoping to make an impression here, though it's fair to say that Daulis Prescott will also be wanting to prove himself. Prescott, the younger brother of Breidis Prescott (best known for stopping Amir Khan inside a round) may not be as as known as his older brother though has quietly been forging his own career since turning professional way back in 2006.
Like Walters, Prescott has been been fighting relatively under-the-radar though unlike Walters', Prescott has suffered a defeat being out pointed by Armenian Gabriel Tolmajyan last year in a split decision. As well as this loss he also has 3 no contests thanks to head clashes which have plagued his career in all honesty .
Since his loss to Tolmajyan, Prescott has run up 3 straight victories including a decision win over the then 11-1 Saul Morales, arguably the best victory of Prescott's career so far. Sadly however for Prescott, Morales is no where near the level of Walters and I tend to think that it's the loss of Prescott that tells us more about him than anything else.
With Walters' power and Prescott's limited ability I dare say that Prescott (who goes into this as the WBA's #5 ranked fighter some how) will get put into his shell early and eventually ground down in the latter half of the fight.
Prediction-Walters TKO7
Jamaican Walters is a pretty well kept secret in boxing circles who has only really been seen by the hardcore fans who have made an effort to catch the long cards from Panama (where he has fought 19 of his 21 bouts to date). For those who have managed to see him, they've been treat to a hugely fun to watch, slightly wild but very powerful fighter with a genuinely eye catching style.
Although Walters is somewhat unknown by the vast majority of fight fans he has scored some decent wins, with the most notable of those coming last year against former world title challenger Irving Berry (TKO6). Though of course his record is relatively thin compared to that of many others in and around the Featherweight, he has shown the ability to beat good fighters.
Having been professional since 2008 the 26 year old Walters will be hoping to make an impression here, though it's fair to say that Daulis Prescott will also be wanting to prove himself. Prescott, the younger brother of Breidis Prescott (best known for stopping Amir Khan inside a round) may not be as as known as his older brother though has quietly been forging his own career since turning professional way back in 2006.
Like Walters, Prescott has been been fighting relatively under-the-radar though unlike Walters', Prescott has suffered a defeat being out pointed by Armenian Gabriel Tolmajyan last year in a split decision. As well as this loss he also has 3 no contests thanks to head clashes which have plagued his career in all honesty .
Since his loss to Tolmajyan, Prescott has run up 3 straight victories including a decision win over the then 11-1 Saul Morales, arguably the best victory of Prescott's career so far. Sadly however for Prescott, Morales is no where near the level of Walters and I tend to think that it's the loss of Prescott that tells us more about him than anything else.
With Walters' power and Prescott's limited ability I dare say that Prescott (who goes into this as the WBA's #5 ranked fighter some how) will get put into his shell early and eventually ground down in the latter half of the fight.
Prediction-Walters TKO7
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