FILIPINO FLASH FALLS
Donaire knocked out by Walters
THE UNDEFEATED Jamaican Nicholas “Axe Man” Walters offered the best birthday present to his father, knocking out former Filipino pound for pound boxer Nonito “The Flash” Donaire in the sixth round of their World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight title fight held at the StubHub Center in Carson, California, yesterday.
Walters, 28, who hails from Montego Bay, Jamaica, powered a right uppercut straight to Donaire’s chin to score the first knockdown with barely 28 seconds left in the third round, sending the one time Fighter of the Year awardee down for the first time in his professional boxing career.
Donaire, 31, a Talibon, Bohol, native, managed to hold on for a few more rounds before the new WBA featherwegiht champion Walters ended the bout with two powerful right hooks straight to Donaire’s left ear, knocking him down for the second time with barely 10 seconds left in round six.
The Filipino Flash managed to stand up before the mandatory 10-count of referee Raul Caiz Jr. ended but Donaire was still unstable as referee Caiz Jr. interceded wisely calling for a fight stoppage and giving the victory to Walters.
Walters improved his clean record to 25 wins (21 via KO) with no draw or loss while Donaire, for his part, dropped to 33 wins (21 via KO) and 3 losses.
Walters, in the postfight interview, said he worked hard to prepare for the fight, saying, “We came out following our gameplan and strategy which resulted to a victory over a tough opponent and champion fighter Donaire.”
“He is a very tough guy. He almost got me at the end of the second round. It was a clean shot and I was lucky I got saved by the bell,” Walters added.
Donaire, on the other hand, said that Walters is an amazing champion. “I was at my best for this. I never trained this hard. I never ever trained this hard for a fight. I knew the power that he had inside the ring. The size he had over me, I couldn’t even move.”
When asked about his plans for his next fight, Donaire replied, “We’re looking to go down in the weight class for my next fight.”