WBA Featherweight Champion Nicholas Axe Man Walters Put To Test Against Darchinyan
By Robert Brizel, Head RCM Boxing Correspondent
At 23-0, Jamaica’s first world featherweight champion will be put to the test tonight in the out of the way venue of Macao, China, as he defends his title against the southpaw veteran former champion Vic Darchinyan of Glendale, California. Darchinyan, 39-6-1, 28 knockouts, has now aged at 38 years old, having lost three of his last five bouts, and four of his last eight. Nonetheless, Darchinyan, long a crowd favorite and television fighter phenomenon, hopes for a title rematch with Nonito Donaire if he wins. Donaire must win the WBA Super World Featherweight title from Simpiwe Vetyeka later on the same card.
Darchinyan, a natural world champion at super flyweight and bantamweight, can no longer compete at the 12 round distance pushing 40 years old with the same level of skill as he did when he was younger. Given, Macao, China is to be considered a sparkling neutral venue favoring neither fighter.
Top Rank has it on its mind to match WBA versus WBA if Walters beats Darchinyan, and Donaire beats Vetyeka. However, Walters should stop Darchinyan within eleven rounds, and Vetyeka should decision Donaire over 12 rounds, to create a far different matchup this summer to settle the WBA featherweight score. Walters has superior hand speed and power, and is perhaps today’s most underestimated champion, including by Darchinyan.
English
No Comments Yet