‘I will learn from it’

FORMER WORLD World Boxing Association featherweight champion Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters suffered the second loss of his career on Saturday night in Long Beach, California, when he retired at the end of the third round of his fight against Mexican Luis Torres, in a fight that was scheduled for 10 rounds.

His record is now 29 wins, two losses, and a draw, while his opponent has improved his record to 21 victories and one loss.

The 39-year-old Walters, who was coming back to the ring after an absence of more than 11 months, was outgunned by his 23-year-old, southpaw opponent, who attacked him from the opening bell, and it was a slug-fest for the duration of the fight. Both men came out aggressively and exchanged punches from all angles.

Walters, who was the shorter man, tucked in his head and threw hooks to the body and head with both hands, in a decisive manner. Torres did not back off, however, and in a blazing first round, each man gave as much as he got. Walters had the edge in what was a very close round. The pattern was the same in the second round as both men seemed in a hurry, and neither of them stepped back to throw a jab. Torres looked sharper in that round.

The battle continued in the third round with both men working on the inside, and throwing hard punches at each other. Torres started to get the better of Walters as the round progressed, and after suffering a cut which the referee ruled was from a clash of heads, he caught Walters with a solid left hook to the head which hurt him.

Walters backed away, took a knee and then stood up and turned his back.

Referee Rudy Barragan ordered Walters to turn round, counted to eight, and asked him if he wanted to continue. He said yes and was able to survive, as only 10 seconds were left in the round. Shortly afterwards, however, his corner told the referee that he would not be continuing.

Walters told The Gleaner afterwards that he was not making excuses, but thought that he had taken the fight at too short a notice. After such a long break, he said, he needed more than the five weeks that he had to properly prepare for such a tough opponent. Sounding upbeat despite the loss, he said that after a short break he would be returning to the gym, and was sure that he would be able to give a better performance in his next fight.

“This is a setback, but I will learn from it and come back stronger the next time I fight.”