Nonito Donaire vs. Nicholas Walters: Fight Time, Date, TV Info and More
Make no mistake about it: Reigning WBA super world featherweight champion, "The Filipino Flash" Nonito Donaire (33-2, 21 KO) will be at significant risk on Saturday when he faces "Axe Man" Nicholas Walters (24-0, 20 KO).
The 31-year-old Donaire will defend his title against the power-punching and hungry 28-year-old from Jamaica at the StubHub Center in Carson, California. Donaire is expected to have a large contingent of fans present for the bout because he lives in San Leandro, California.
However, Walters isn't intimidated. He told Damian Calhoun of the Orange County Register:
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"He’s going to have his crowd, but at the end of the day, there will only be Donaire, myself and the ref in the ring. He can’t run to his coach or his fans once we’re in the ring. His fans are not going to help him. I’m not worried. His fans will be my fans at the end of the fight. I’m planning on taking the super title back home with me. I’m going to be smart. I know Donaire is a smart fighter, he was fighter of the year (2012) on one occasion. He’s been in the business a long time, but I’m going to do what the Axe Man does best and that’s knock people out.
"
Walters may not be able to convert Donaire lovers into his own fans, but he does have a legit shot to win the title. Though he is a legitimate world champion, Donaire hasn't really looked like the fighter who won Fighter of the Year for a while now. Life situations and success may have decreased his seemingly faint love for the sport.
Many in the boxing community are wondering whether he can regain the spark that made him one of the best in the world.
It should be an interesting bout. Here's how you can watch.
When: Saturday, October 18 at 10 p.m. ET
Where: StubHub Center, Carson, California
TV: HBO
Validation
Walters won the WBA regular world title when he stopped Daulis Prescott in 2012. Since then, he's knocked out Alberto Garza and Vic Darchinyan. Still, he's not regarded as one of the biggest names in the lower weight classes.
All that could change if the Axe Man drops Donaire.
The Filipino Flash obviously represents a step up in competition for Walters, but there's reason for the tough Jamaican to feel confident. Walters manhandled Darchinyan in a way Donaire was never able to in two fights with the notoriously tough Armenian.
While Donaire owns two wins over Darchinyan, both of them were difficult bouts. Walters made it look easy. At the end of the night on Saturday, that may not matter, but comparing performances at least provides Walters with reason to believe he can compete with the more well-known and established Donaire.
Still Hungry, or Nah
Donaire has had the look of a fighter who has lost his zeal for the sport since he won Fighter of the Year in 2012 and his son Jarel was born in July 2013. Since these glorious events, Donaire lost to Guillermo Rigondeaux in April 2013, looked less than stellar against Darchinyan in Nov. 2013 and won on a technical decision over Simpiwe Vetyeka in May.
Clearly, this has not been Donaire's best stretch of work.
By his own admission, he never really loved boxing. Donaire once told Tris Dixon of Boxing News Magazine, "All my life I wanted to be recognized by my parents, especially my dad. I hated boxing and I hated fighting but I did it because I saw the attention my brother was getting."
Donaire's brother Glenn was a solid flyweight contender, but Nonito is the more talented of the two. He used that talent to obtain the lifestyle, attention and approval he sought. Now that he has it via in-ring success, and a family of his own, it's easy to wonder: What's his motivation?
If he's satisfied, he can say all the right things in interviews, but it's only a matter of time before someone victimizes him. The Rigondeaux loss is legit, because we're talking about a world-class opponent. But Donaire could fall prey to a fighter whom most would expect him to handle because he's no longer hungry.
Prediction
This is really a tough call. Walters is rugged, confident and powerful. He truly believes he can beat Donaire convincingly. I'm inclined to believe him.
Recently, Donaire has fallen into a pattern of leaning on his big left hook. He's almost exclusively looking to land the one big shot that ends the night. He got it against Darchinyan in their last bout.
Walters and his corner must be smart and protect against this very dangerous weapon. It helps Walters' case that he may be the biggest puncher Donaire has ever faced. Power is always a great equalizer, and it presents an especially tough test for a fighter who may no longer have the fire in his belly.
This might be a little daring, but I see Walters winning this bout by decision after dropping Donaire twice during the fight. If this prediction comes true, it might be time for Donaire to walk away. He's already proved his point.
Follow Brian Mazique on Twitter. I dig boxing and MMA
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