JAMAICAN featherweight Nicholas Walters has pointed to an eight-month layoff and the quality of opponent for being unable to score a knockout during Saturday night’s match-up against Miguel Marriaga at Madison Square Gardens.Ahead of the fight, all the talk had been about one of the hard-hitting opponents being certain to score a knockout before the 12th round. The fight, however, developed cautiously and in the end Walters won convincingly on the cards, in an efficient if not powerful showing.
Walters took the fight 119-108, 118-109 and 117-110. The display, however, did not prove to be the most entertaining with some members of the audience being quick to voice their displeasure.
“It was a tough fight. (Marriaga) was very well-rounded. He was tough and he came to fight,” Walters said.
“He put on a show and it was a tough fight after (I had) an eight-month layoff. I caught him a few times, I hurt him a few times, and that was it.”
Walters, who was the champion leading up to the fight, was dealt a heavy blow ahead of the match-up, losing his title at the scales after failing to make the 126-pound weight requirement. Walter hit the scale at 127 pounds. The win took the Jamaican’s record to 26-0, (21 KOs).
“The crowd is used to Nicholas knocking people out,” Walters said. “They have to understand I am coming off eight months and I hurt him a few times. But he was tough.” (Sportsmax)