The Winner and Why
Photo by Chris Farina/Top Rank
Nicholas Walters appears to have the best chance at winning this match. He could just be talking a big game, but he’s coming to the ring with the intent to fight smart. Nonito Donaire’s most recent fights have shown that getting the job done is one thing, doing it well is another. The fact that he has won his last two fights reminds us there is still a chance he could win; the fact he has won those fights unimpressively diminishes my confidence in him to do so.
Simply put, Walters has what it takes to get the job done well. He’s a young, hungry fighter, eager to prove he is the “big fish” in his division, and earn respect from a seasoned fighter like Donaire. If Donaire comes to the table with only promises of speed and power (which haven’t been impressive lately), he could be in a lot of trouble.
Young fighters tend to feel the most invincible, relying on skills and heart alone instead of the mind. Walters is ambitious, but even with the confidence he has in himself, he is not underestimating Donaire by any means. Walters merely recognizes Donaire is not who he used to be, and if Donaire believes otherwise, he’ll have to prove it to him this Saturday in the ring. You can’t be mad at that.
