Walters' impressive in title defence

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

Jamaica's latest boxing sensation, 24-year old Nicholas 'The Axeman' Walters, made another successful defence of his World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin title last Saturday night in Colon City, Panama, with an impressive ninth-round TKO victory over Gonzalo Munguia of Nicaragua.

The victory gave Walters a 17-0 record and ended the year on a positive note for him, as he had four excellent victories, which included two title defences.

Fourteen of his fights have now ended inside the distance and he has a knockout percentage record of 82.35.

His manager, Jacques Deschamps, said he was elated at the victory, noting it was easily the best fight he had seen from his charge since he became a professional.

"We stepped up the quality of the opposition for this fight and he responded magnificently," said Deschamps. "I think that he won every round.

"Next year, we are going to take him to the next level and match him against different types of opponents," he added. "We want him to keep moving up the ratings and this victory is definitely a step in the right direction."

Moving up

Last month, Walters moved up to No. 9 in the WBA featherweight ratings and this victory will certainly see him moving up at least another two notches.

Munguia, who went into the fight with a 17-7-3 record and 13 knockouts, was the highest-rated boxer that Walters had faced in his two-year professional career. He normally fights in the super-featherweight division and was so highly rated there that he fought for a world title in that division last May.

He lost that fight, however, to Roman Martinez of Puerto Rico and was seeking to redeem himself with a victory over Walters.

That was not to be, however, as the Jamaican buzz seized the initiative early and never relinquished it. Reports are that Walters took a few minutes to find his bearing and started to build up his attacks behind the jab. He attacked his opponent's head with jabs and went to the body with sharp right and left hooks.

Munguia tried to fight back gamely but Walters was on a roll. He made himself an elusive target and scored with a two-fisted barrage of punches that rocked his opponent.

Walters built up the pressure as the rounds progressed and really opened up in the eighth. He scored at will and tried hard for a knockout but Munguia denied him this thrill.

The Nicaraguan was unable to answer the bell for the ninth round and the fight was, therefore, recorded as a ninth-round TKO victory for the Jamaican star.