Nicholas "Tha Axe Man" Walters (born 4 January 1986) is a Jamaican professional boxer. He held the WBAfeatherweight title from 2014 to 2015, having previously held the Regular version from 2012 to 2014.
Personal life
Born in Montego Bay, Walters attended the Roehampton Primary and Anchovy High School.[1] Walters is nicknamed "The Axe Man".[2] He is the son of former boxer Job Walters.[1] He began boxing at the age of ten and had his first professional fight at the age of 22 against Estaban Ramos of Panama.[1]
Amateur career
Walters had a successful amateur career prior to turning professional, winning the 2005 and 2006 Caribbean Championships gold medal at featherweight, and falling short at the 2007 World Championships at featherweight against Bashir Hassan and in 2008 at the America´s Olympic Qualifier at featherweight against Miguel Marriaga.[3] He later went on to defeat Marriaga as a professional.
Professional career
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Walters captured the WBA Fedelatin title in 2009, and successfully defended it four times.[1] He won the vacant WBA (Regular) World Featherweight title on 8 December 2012, against ColombianDaulis Prescott during the annual KO Drugs Festival in Jamaica,[4] via seventh round knockout.[4]
Walters vs. Donaire
Making good on his prediction of a knockout in either the 5th or 6th round,[5] Walters defeated Nonito Donaire in a close competitive fight by technical knockout in the 6th round to capture the WBA World Featherweight Championship. He was promoted to Super Champion status in February 2015.[6]
Walters vs. Marriaga
Walters originally weighed in at 127.4 pounds for his fight against Miguel Marriaga, who weighed in at 125.2 pounds. Walters was given 2 hours to drop to at least 126 pounds, the maximum limit of the Featherweight division. Walters did not succeed, being able only to drop to 127 pounds. Thus, he was stripped of the title.[7] Walters defeated Marriaga by unanimous decision.[8]
Walters vs. Sosa
He then moved to 130lbs, where he was held to a draw by Jason Sosa. Most observers thought Walters clearly won, and the result was controversial. Despite a dominant performance by Walters, one judge had Sosa winning the fight, 96–94, while the other two had it a draw, 95–95.[9]
Walters vs. Lomachenko
Walters remained inactive for a year following this fight, before taking on Vasiliy Lomachenko in Las Vegas. Lomachenko, who was considered as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters in the world, dominated the fight before Walters quit in the seventh round.[10]
