(Jamaica Observer) Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters landed a well-deserved technical knockout victory over the persistent Daulis Prescott in the seventh round to capture the World Boxing Association (WBA) Featherweight crown to become the 10th Jamaican world champion, and more importantly, the first to win a world title on local soil.
Walters, 26, who entered the ring as the number one ranked contender early Sunday morning, sensationally knocked out Prescott 35 seconds in the seventh round with an overhand right, after flooring the Colombian in the fourth and fifth rounds, sending patrons inside the National Indoor Sports Centre into wild celebrations.
Walters, who delivered the title on home soil 22 years after the much-loved Richard ‘Shrimpy’ Clarke failed in 1990, presented the small island celebrating its 50th anniversary, with a well-timed Christmas gift.
“I must dedicate this victory to my Jamaican people on the 50th anniversary of the country [political Independence],” said Walters, as applause rang out inside the arena.
He continued: “I must say nuff love for my mom, because she has been there for me all the time through thick and thin. I must say thanks to Mr Brown, Mr Carl Chang from Western Sports who has helped me a lot also, and to everybody in Jamaica.” Walters joins the likes of Trevor Berbick, Michael McCallum, Simon Brown, Lloyd Honeyghan, Glen Johnson, Oneil Bell, Otis Grant, Uriah Grant, and more recently, female boxer Alicia Ashley, who captured the World Boxing Council (WBC) Super Bantamweight crown in July 2012, to be crowned world champion. “This means that I am on top of the world, I am the best in the world in my division. It’s a dream come thrue right now for me,” said an emotional Walters.
“I want to thank everybody that made this possible. Wray & Nephew, SportsMax, and I want to say thanks to the Jamaica Boxing Board for coming through for me. My manager, in Jacques Deschamps, because without him nothing would be possible,” he emphasised.
