The long wait for World Boxing Association (WBA) featherweight champion Jamaican Nicholas ‘The Axeman’ Walters has ended. After months waiting for a promoter to sign him to an agreement to make his first title defence, he has now inked a deal with world-famous promoter Bob Arum and his Top Rank organisation to fight an opponent to be named shortly, on November 9 in Corpus Christi, Texas.
This will be on a card featuring two other world title fights.
Jacques Deschamps, who manages Walters, told Jamaican media Tuesday that the contract with Top Rank is now “signed, sealed and delivered”.
Deschamps added, “he (Walters) is anxious to get back into the ring after a nine-month lay-off and he will now be able to show the world that he is the best featherweight boxer in the world.”
Walters won the title on December 8, 2012 at the National Indoor Sports Centre by scoring a dramatic seventh-round technical knockout over Daulis Prescott of Colombia.
Plans were for him to make his first title defence in Jamaica, but negotiations dragged on for months and finally ended without resolution.
Deschamps said that he negotiated with both Top Rank and Golden Boy Promotions for several weeks and Top Rank came up with the best offer.
The contract is for five fights in two years, and to keep up his end of the bargain, Walters has to keep winning.
“Nicholas has to win to keep the contract alive, and if he performs well, Jamaica’s boxing fans will be able to see him on HBO,” Deschamps pointed out. “The purse money that he will command will depend on his performances and his success, and if he does well, he can be a headline fighter.”
In a statement after the signing, Arum said that he was pleased to add Walters to his camp because there were some good fighters in that weight class.
Walters said he is thrilled that the negotiations had ended on a positive note because he is anxious to get into the ring.
“I have waited a long time for this to happen and feel great that the wait is over. This has been my longest lay-off since I turned professional, and I am happy to end the drought,” said Walters.
“Now that I have signed a contract, I hope that everything will work itself out and that I will know who my opponent is in a matter of days. I want a good fighter so that I can show off my boxing skills, and my only regret is that I will not be doing it at home,” the boxer noted.
He assured, “I will be ready, regardless of who they put in the ring against me, and I want to score a big victory for my many fans, especially those in Jamaica and Panama.” (Excerpted from Jamaica Gleaner)
