Walters ready to defend crown

Leroy Brown, Gleaner Writer

With his eyes firmly set on a world title fight next year, Jamaican boxing star Nicholas Walters, the World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin featherweight champion, will make the fourth defence of his title today in Panama City against Panamanian Irving Berry, who has a 22-2-2 record.

This is by far the most accomplished opponent Walters will face in his brief, but extremely successful career. He has an 18-0 record and the pattern has been for him to face a more difficult opponent every time he fights. This, his manager Jacques Deschamps says, is to prepare him for the "big time" and a title fight in the near future.

Walters is reported to have had a very successful training camp so far, and word from those who have seen him train is that he is in very good condition. He is now rated No. 4 in the world by the WBA, and a victory over Berry could see him climbing his way to top-contender status and a title fight.

The man who will exchange punches with him is a very experienced boxer, who fought for the vacant world featherweight title on March 12, 2010, against Jonathan Barros. He lost by technical knockout in the seventh round of that fight, but gave a good account of himself.

Exceptional knockout ratio

He has a reputation of being a good boxer and wins most of his fights by using his excellent boxing skills. In 24 victories he has recorded only nine knockouts.

Walters, on the other hand, has won 15 of his 18 fights inside the distance. This gives him an exceptional 83 per cent knockout ratio and puts him in the dangerous category. Being rated at No. 4 by the WBA, however, the Jamaican has a lot at stake and said yesterday he is not taking anything for granted.

"He wants my title but he has to take it and that will not be easy," Walters volunteered.