Nonito Donaire vs. Nicholas Walters: Head to Head…
Tonight, from a sold out StubHub Center in Carson, California, five division world titlist Nonito Donaire (33-2, 21 KOs) will take on the hungry and confident ?Jamaican Axeman? Nicholas Walters (24-0, 20 KOs) in the co-main event of a talented enriched fight card, slated to be televised on HBO.
The Home Box Office broadcast is scheduled to begin at 10:00 p.m. eastern time/pacific time, with an additional telecast on HBO Latino which will feature former WBC Super Middleweight title challenger Edwin ?La Bomba? Rodriguez vs. Azea Augustama immediately following the World Championship Boxing programming. Although ?The Filipino Flash? (+105) has the overwhelming edge in big fight experience, Walters (-135) is coming into this fight featured as the slight betting favorite based on the strength of both fighters? most recent respective performances.
In a controversial title winning effort on May 31st, in Macau, China, Donaire won his fifth world title by way of a 5 round technical decision over the surprisingly game Simpiwe Vetyeka. After receiving a horrid gash in the final moments of the opening stanza, the 31 year old fight veteran was eventually deemed unable to continue after four rounds had been completed by referee Luis Pabon, and captured the South African fighter?s WBA title with a unanimous decision.
Although the popular Las Vegas based fighter floored the reigning title holder in the fourth round of action on May 31st, many fight scribes and boxing fans questioned the heart and toughness of Donaire because of the controversial nature of the abbreviated championship bout.
In contrast, the WBA ?Regular? Featherweight Champion made light work of former two division world titlist Vic Darchinyan on the same fight card in Macau, China, knocking out the rugged fight veteran in just five rounds. In his most impressive victory to date, the Jamaican born fighter battered the ?Raging Bull? relentlessly, dropping him three times in the process. Does Nonito Donaire still have the hunger and passion to overcome a confident, undefeated young title holder? And does Nicholas Walters have the ability and poise to perform on the biggest stage of boxing against an athletically gifted five time world champion?
Let?s take a look at the Keys to Victory for both fighters.
Keys to Victory
Nonito Donaire – The Filipino Flash stands 5?5 ?? tall and fights behind a 64 ?? reach. The five division world champion is ambidextrous and extremely athletic, and has the ability to give any fighter problems because of his ability to move fluidly and effectively throw punches from odd angles. His athletic gifts give him the ability to fight proficiently out of an orthodox stance as well as a southpaw position.
For a fighter who began his career as a Flyweight, Donaire is a very explosive puncher, combining speed with power. Although at times he relies too heavily on his vaunted left hook, Nonito has the overall ability to hurt any opponent at any given time in a prizefight with a wide variety of punches.
The 31 year old fight veteran has an underrated jab that he will use sparingly and often abandon while looking to land his explosive left hook. Against a deceptively smart and athletically gifted fighter like Walters, Donaire will have to set up his money punch by using a series of sporadic jabs and use it as his first line of defense. Also, Nonito cannot be a head hunter in his fight.
He absolutely must mix up his punches, throwing occasional jabs and left hooks to the body to slow down his young, athletic opponent and temper his power.
Also to win this fight, Donaire cannot take the lead and follow a dangerous puncher like Walters around the ring. He must use his athleticism and masterful footwork to create opportunities while keeping the heavy handed Jamaican off balance by showing him different angles and ranges.
Patience will be crucial in this fight. Nonito must not be pressured into forcing the action against a dangerous sharp shooter like Walters, or he could get stopped in the mid to late rounds.
The Filipino fighter has never been an effective aggressor and is an explosive pocket counter puncher by trade. To have any kind of success against Nicholas Walters, Donaire must elect to be the ring general and not attempt to become the affective aggressor.
If the five division titlist can remember to work off of a sporadic jab, mixing in feints, touch jabs, and hard, sticking left hands, while using his feet to give his hungry and confident opponent different looks, Nonito Donaire could earn a big victory over the talented and heavy handed ?Axeman? of Jamaica.
Nicholas Walters – The fighting pride of Montego Bay, Jamaica, fights out of an orthodox stance and possesses a 73? reach as well as a 5?7? height advantage in this Featherweight contest. At 28 years of age, the ?Axeman? is an athletically gifted fighter and a very intelligent ring technician who truly understands the importance of range and angles to keep his opponents off balance.
The foundation of his defense and offense is his proficient footwork, which he uses to keep his opponents at a safe distance. He moves in and out of punching range with relative ease and is very difficult to time and counter effectively. When in punching range, Walters likes to throw in combination to the body and head while immediately moving out of range and getting out of the direct line of fire.
To win this crucial match-up against a very explosive puncher, Walters has to be mindful of Donaire?s speed advantage and look to time and counter his much faster opponent. Look for Waters to use his footwork to bait Nonito into taking the lead. When he sees Donaire lunging in from mid to long range, Nicholas must take advantage of those windows of opportunity and catch Donaire coming with the right uppercut or combination left hook, straight right hand.
Also, Walters absolutely must be patient and allow his eyes to get adjusted to the speed of Donaire?s movement and punches. If he attempts to let his hands go and immediately pursue a dangerous fighter like Nonito, he could find himself on the canvas early and often. Walters would be wise to show veteran patience and use his footwork to set traps for the Filipino star.
To win this fight, Nicholas must remember that “steady drops fill the bucket”. The Axeman is gifted with naturally heavy hands and doesn’t have to load up on every shot to effectively hurt his opponent.
If the Jamaican born fighter can work at a measured pace, making his opponent pay every time he elects to take the lead, he can slowly break down the five division world titlist and possibly get a mid to late rounds stoppage.
Donaire vs Walters Prediction Although both fighters are legitimate champions and very dangerous fighters, look for Nonito?s speed and explosiveness to be the difference in this fight. Expect some awkward moments and lulls in action to begin the contest, with the action heating up in the middle rounds.
I can see Walters having some mild success in the early to mid rounds, and ultimately getting careless once he begins to touch Donaire on a regular basis. Don?t look for both fighters to trade often in this fight, and expect Donaire to close the show in style once he?s able to land his vaunted and signature left hook in the mid to late rounds.
Donaire TKO 7 over Walters
