By Edward Chaykovsky
Someone is going to walk away with the first career defeat on Saturday night at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. Two hard hitters, WBA featherweight champion Nicholas Walters (25-0, 21 KOs), and dangerous challenger Miguel Marriaga (20-0, 18 KOs), will collide in the HBO Boxing After Dark televised co-feature.
Marriaga claims that he fought, and beat, Walters in the amateurs. Walters has no memory of that fight, but admits it very well may have happened. He sent a warning that he trained the entire camp with the goal of getting a knockout win and he plans to end the fight early in vicious fashion.
“Marriaga may have beaten me in the amateurs but I do not remember it. Besides those fights are four rounds. On Saturday we will be fighting 12 rounds. He may be bringing his ‘A Game’ but I am bringing my ‘A-Plus Game.’ I have trained for a knockout victory. I am going to destroy him," Walter said.
“I am overwhelmed to be fighting at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of Boxing, because so many of boxing’s great champions have fought here. It is hallowed ground. It is my honor and I want to give my best performance there. To be great…to be known as the best…you have to beat the best and I am ready to take on all champions in my division and beyond.”
But Marriaga has plans of his own.
“Of course Walters doesn’t remember me beating him for a spot on the Olympic team…because he lost! He’s not going to remember Saturday, June 13 for the same reason! I have the strength and the intelligence to beat him. I will use my strength and intelligence to beat him. After I beat Walters again on Saturday I look forward to unifying the titles in my next fight,” Marriaga said.