ESTRANGED manager of boxer, Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters, Jacques Deschamps, has joined experts like former middleweight champion Roy Jones Jr., in saying the boxer was not prepared for his fight with Vasyl Lomachenko.
Walters failed to answer the bell for round 8 during the World Boxing Organisation Super featherweight title bout between the two at the Hotel Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas.
According to Deschamps in an interview with The Gleaner, “Nicholas was not prepared for his fight against Lomachenko, physically, mentally or technically.”

“For a fighter like Lomachenko,” he said, “you have to be well prepared.”
According to Deschamps, there should have been a two-month camp, during which, a number of aspects of fighting Lomachenko would have been taken into consideration and prepared for.
“Apart from the physical aspects, Lomachenko’s style had to be taken into consideration and sparring partners should have been engaged to do what he was likely to do on fight night. I am sure that this was not done,” said Lomachenko.
All is not lost for Walters though, as Deschamps believes that Walters’ ability could see him back at the top of the fight game within a year.

Deschamps and Walters fell out over finances during their time together but both parties seem willing to talk, and the former believes he can still help the fighter.
“Nicholas is one of the best boxers in the world, and if he applies himself the right way, he can be back to the top in less than a year,” he said.
“I can get him back there, if he is willing to listen to me.”
Walters has also admitted to not being quite ready for the fight, spending too much time focussing on making sure he was the right weight, rather than the technical applications necessary for the fight.

A reconnection of the two could be on the cards as well, based on the conversations Walters has had with The Gleaner.
“Mr Deschamps has been very good to me and I owe him a lot. I really do not have any problem with him. We have some differences but we can talk,” said Walters.

(Sportsmax.com)