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The Axe Man just keeps on chopping.
Chopping Down Donaire
Nicholas Walters punched his way to a sixth round knockout victory over Nonito Donaire Jr. in the co-main event of HBO’s “Mexican Style” boxing show at the StubHub Center in Carson, California on Saturday night.
The unbeaten Jamaican champion finished the 2012 BWAA Fighter of the Year winner in the closing seconds of the sixth round with a devastating right hand to the side of the head which knocked Donaire face first into the canvass. Referee Raul Caiz Jr. waived the bout off with one second left in the round after Donaire failed to beat the count.
Coming Out Party
Although Walters was already the WBA’s regular featherweight world champion coming into the bout, he was still a virtual unknown to the American market. But with his spectacular demolition of one of the best boxers in the lighter weight classes, Walters turned the fight into his coming out party.
After his victory was announced, Walters celebrated what was easily the biggest victory of his young career with a dance in his corner. The win was also a fitting tribute to Walters father-trainer, who was celebrating his birthday on Saturday.
Not His Class
Walters was too long and too strong for Donaire, who had gone up in weight to win world titles in five weight classes. But the featherweight division could be too much for the 31 year old Filipino Flash.
Walters wobbled Donaire in their early exchanges although the Filipino caught Walters with his patented left hook in the closing seconds of round 2. But after getting hit with the punch that put Fernando Montiel and Jorge Arce to sleep, Walters recovered easily in between rounds and put the pressure on Donaire once again in the third round where he smacked Donaire with an uppercut that led to the fight’s first knockdown.
Donaire seemed to be tentative to brawl after the third round knockdown and tried to land from a distance. But Walters length was too much and Donaire’s right eye was beginning to swell badly after getting targeted by Walters. An accidental head butt caused more trouble for the Filipino champion as it opened a cut in his left eye. Sensing blood, Walters moved in for the kill.
No Excuses
Donaire offered no excuses after the bout saying that Walters’ power and height were too much for him. He said that he had the “best training camp” and he showed up with the “old fire” that was missing in his last three bouts. But none of the best that Donaire had was good enough for Walters.
After the bout, Top Rank President Bob Arum said he’s “never seen a featherweight with the power of Walters.” Arum is not alone because neither have we seen in the past any other featherweight drop 21 of 25 opponents. The scary thing about the Axe Man is that he proved on Saturday that he can take a punch.
