Walters arrives in Haiti for title fight
PORT-AU-PRINCE, Haiti (CMC) — The undefeated Jamaican featherweight boxer Nicholas Walters arrived here Tuesday night for his World Boxing Association (WBA) FedeLatin title fight tomorrow’s night.
Panama-based Walters will tackle the Dominican Republic’s Carlos Manuel Reyes in a clash of unbeaten boxers for the vacant FedeLatin 126-pound belt at the Karibe Convention Centre in Petionville.
“I am happy to be in Haiti,” Walters told CMC Sport.
“I have some Haitian training partners in Panama, so I have learned a bit about the country and I am happy to be here,” he added.
Sidelined in recent months with an injury, Walters is having his first fight since August.
The promising 23-year-old suffered a fractured hand in August when he knocked out Colombian Ernesto Vasquez and needed surgery.
He has fully recovered and has declared himself ready to resume his career.
“I am in very good condition, mind and body and I am ready,” he said.
Walters boasts an unblemished record of 12-0 with 10 knockouts and Reyes is 13-0 with seven knockouts.
Haitian Jacques Deschamps, who manages Walters, is promoting Friday night’s bout in partnership with the Panamanian outfit Premium Boxing Promotions.
Deschamps has described the bout as critical for Walters, a potential platform to boost his career toward world recognition.
“It is very important, the winner of the fight will likely enter the world ratings. The FedeLatin champion usually ends up in the top 15 of world ratings,” Deschamps told CMC Sport.
“If he wins against Reyes, next year he should be able to move on to better things,” Deschamps added.
The Walters-Reyes showdown will be one of two title fights on the card, as former European Union champion, French-Haitian boxer Jimmy Colas, will tackle Colombian champion Jhon Berrio for the interim World Boxing Council (WBC) Latino light middleweight title.