Nicholas Walters – Can the Axeman chop down the featherweight division?

Nicholas Walters – Can the Axeman chop down the featherweight division?

Nicholas Walters announced himself on the world stage by defeating Nonito Donaire to cement himself as the WBA featherweight king. Walters held the regular title going in to the fight but became super champion with a convincing sixth round knockout victory. Here at the Behind the Gloves we take a look at the Jamaican fighter’s options and where he could go next.

Walters (25-0, 21 KO’s) has stopped 21 of his 25 opponents including his last five and has the power to trouble anyone in the 126lb pound division. Explosive performances like the one he produced against Donaire continue to enhance his reputation and grow his fan base. Unifying what is a tough division is now a possibility for the ‘Axeman’.

Evgeny Gradovich currently holds the IBF strap and that is a unification fight that could happen next for Walters, although Lee Selby is the mandatory challenger for Gradovich’s strap. Gradovich (19-0, 9 KO’s) is unbeaten as a pro and trained by Robert Garcia. Gradovich landed the world title by defeating Australian, Billy Dib. Gradovich took the fight with under a months’ notice which made his victory even more impressive. Walters would prove a big test for him though, possessing the punch power that Gradovich perhaps lacks.

Another option and perhaps a bigger fight than Gradovich would be a showdown with the WBC champion, Jhonny Gonzalez. Gonzalez (57-8, 48 KO’s) is another heavy handed fighter and a two weight world champion. Well known in Mexico, America and the UK, Gonzalez vs Walters is an easy sell. It has the potential to be an explosive fight and the fact that two titles would be on the line makes it even bigger. Walters himself is known to prefer this option and it’s easy to see why. Following up a victory against Donaire with a unification fight victory over Gonzalez would really make a statement to the boxing world and enhance his growing reputation even more.

The last current world champion in the featherweight division is amateur superstar, Vasyl Lomachenko (2-1, 2 KO’s). Lomachenko is a two time Olympic champion and challenged for a world title in just his second professional fight. Although he was defeated, he went on to claim the WBO world title in his third bout, equalling the record as the fastest fighter to win a world crown. He is out again on the Pacquiao vs Algieri undercard in November 2014, making his first defence. I think it is very unlikely that team Lomachenko would want to throw their fighter in with some one of Walter’s ilk so early in his pro career so this is probably a fight for further down the line. It could be a big fight in a year or so if both men keep on winning so it’s definitely one to look out for.

One man on British soil who will be keeping a close eye on Walters and his next move is Lee Selby. Selby is in line for a shot at the IBF title but if he wants to prove himself as the standout fighter in the division his path will cross with Walters in the future. Selby won’t yet be on Walters’s raider and will need to earn his shot with the ‘Axeman’. However, with Sky TV and Matchroom behind Selby it is certainly a viable fight should Selby land a world crown.

Walters is in a great position in the division with a number of options ahead of him. If he continues his impressive succession of knockouts, world boxing could have a new star. Unifying a hot division will more than help him on his way.

– Thomas Flower / @ThomasFlower

– Contributor to www.BehindtheGloves.com