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by Cliff Rold - Belts come and go. Usually, they go in the ring. Sometimes, it happens on the scale. We’ve still got a title fight Saturday night on HBO (10 PM EST/PST) but only one man can win it.
WBA titlist Nicholas Walters, widely seen as the current division leader at 126 lbs., missed the limit on Friday and what that means for the main event remains to be seen. In what already looked like a fight with big spoiler potential after a bust-out 2014 for Walters, will Walters be so drained from the effort to come down the scale that it affects his performance?
Or is this the latest case of a fighter who couldn’t make the limit and will now benefit from the day-before-weigh-in failsafe of rehydration? Is it challenger Manuel Marriaga now at a potentially serious competitive disadvantage after holding up his end of the bargain?
Could it be none of these questions matter and we just end up with a good fight?
This is one of those fights that, based on what we’ve seen of both men, looks thrilling. It’s also, based on what we’ve seen of both men, terribly difficult to figure. Walters, with his wins over Darchinyan and Donaire, has clearly faced and bested the better men. Marriaga’s biggest name win is gatekeeper Christopher Martin.
Walters wins on resume.
Resumes don’t throw punches.
In the Martin fight, and other footage of Marriaga, certain attributes stand out. His power is legitimate (the only fighter to stop Martin) and he’s skilled. He has good head movement and doesn’t seem to get outside himself. The hook to the body sets up solid combinations upstairs.
And Marriaga is quick. Speed could be where this duel of knockout punchers gets decided.
Walters, like Marriaga, is a skilled battler. He outboxed as well as outfought Donaire. It was Donaire’s speed that made it interesting early. Donaire wobbled Walters but couldn’t follow up and the bigger man took over. Walters, even missing the limit, won’t enjoy the same size edge he had over Darchinyan and Donaire. Marriaga is a career Featherweight who has fought higher on the scale. Both men will likely rehydrate to above the Lightweight limit.
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WBA titlist Nicholas Walters, widely seen as the current division leader at 126 lbs., missed the limit on Friday and what that means for the main event remains to be seen. In what already looked like a fight with big spoiler potential after a bust-out 2014 for Walters, will Walters be so drained from the effort to come down the scale that it affects his performance?
Or is this the latest case of a fighter who couldn’t make the limit and will now benefit from the day-before-weigh-in failsafe of rehydration? Is it challenger Manuel Marriaga now at a potentially serious competitive disadvantage after holding up his end of the bargain?
Could it be none of these questions matter and we just end up with a good fight?
This is one of those fights that, based on what we’ve seen of both men, looks thrilling. It’s also, based on what we’ve seen of both men, terribly difficult to figure. Walters, with his wins over Darchinyan and Donaire, has clearly faced and bested the better men. Marriaga’s biggest name win is gatekeeper Christopher Martin.
Walters wins on resume.
Resumes don’t throw punches.
In the Martin fight, and other footage of Marriaga, certain attributes stand out. His power is legitimate (the only fighter to stop Martin) and he’s skilled. He has good head movement and doesn’t seem to get outside himself. The hook to the body sets up solid combinations upstairs.
And Marriaga is quick. Speed could be where this duel of knockout punchers gets decided.
Walters, like Marriaga, is a skilled battler. He outboxed as well as outfought Donaire. It was Donaire’s speed that made it interesting early. Donaire wobbled Walters but couldn’t follow up and the bigger man took over. Walters, even missing the limit, won’t enjoy the same size edge he had over Darchinyan and Donaire. Marriaga is a career Featherweight who has fought higher on the scale. Both men will likely rehydrate to above the Lightweight limit.
[Click Here To Read More]
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