FEATHERWEIGHT NICHOLAS WALTERS BREAKS OUT FROM OBSCURITY
Las Vegas, NV– One thing the sport of boxing immensely needs is exciting TV friendly fighters. Especially ones who are respectful and charismatic. WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters (25-0, 21 KOs) appears to have all the aforementioned qualities. The Jamaican born puncher who trains out of Panama had his first chance at the spotlight in 2014 and made the most of those opportunities.
Walters-photo credit-Boxrec.com
In May he nearly decapitated former world champ Vic Darchinayn in China, and in October he stopped WBA champ and former four division world champion Nonito Donaire (33-2, 21 KOs). Donaire, who was dropped twice, had never before tasted the canvas or been stopped.
OMAHA FIGHTER CRAWFORD BECOMES AN ATTRACTION
Who would have thought a year ago that Omaha, Nebraska would become a boxing hotbed? WBO lightweight king Terrence “Bud” Crawford, has pretty much smoked his recent competition. He competed in what was arguably the fight of the year for 2014.
He knocked down former champion Yuri Gamboa (24-1, 17 KOs) a total of four times in a barnburner of a fight in June.
Crawford beat up Gamboa
Additionally he nearly sold out the Century Link Center in his hometown of Omaha. Earlier in the year he went to England and dethroned WBO lightweight champion Ricky Burns(37-4-1, 11 KOs). One has to give Crawford the utmost respect. Most American fighters balk at going overseas, expecting to get an unfair verdict in a close bout. Fortunately the American completely dominated the fight. Last month he routed number 1 contender Ray Beltran (29-7-1) to cap off a stellar year in which most believe is a fighter of the year campaign.
MANNY PACQUIAO HAS COMBACK OF THE YEAR
Many have questioned the desire of Manny Pacquiao at this stage of his career. The 36 year-old Filipino congressman bounced back in 2014, first winning his highly anticipated rematch with Tim Bradley (31-1-1, 12 KOs) who beat him in 2012.
Late November he knocked down WBO 140lb champ Chris Algieri (20-1, 8 KOs) six times (31-1-1, 12 KOs) in what was a one-sided beat down. Some experts thought before the bout that the rangy boxer would give Pacquiao problems. What transpired were some of the most lopsided scorecards in recent memory. It was a great resurgence for a fighter who lost twice in 2012.
Overall boxing wasn’t what it was in 2013, where you had some more memorable fights. To add to the frustration, still to this day boxing’s biggest potential fight still doesn’t appear to be making headway. Lets see if 2015 is the year that Manny Pacquiao and Floyd Mayweather can set aside their differences and get inside the squared circle together.
-Kevin Perry