Tonight at 10:00 p.m. ET HBO will put on a double-header for hardcore boxing fans to get excited about. In the first bout budding Puerto Rican star Felix Verdejo will take on Ivan "Bam Bam" Najera in his HBO debut. In the main event Nicholas "Axe Man" Walters will fight Miguel Marriaga. Live stream the fights by clicking this link.
Walters was stripped of his featherweight title on Friday for failing to make the 126-pound weight limit; he initially weighed in at 127.4 pounds, four pounds over the weight limit, and two hours later was still not where he needed to be.
"I'm coming off an eight-month layoff. I tried everything," said Walters, who might have to consider moving up a weight class if he is struggling this badly to make weight.
Carl Moretti, vice president of Top Rank, said Walters will definitely be moving up after this mishap. "I'm a little surprised," Moretti said.
"I saw him struggle to make weight for the Donaire fight and also for his previous fight, so I always knew 130 was around the corner. I just didn't think it would be around the corner for this fight. He's definitely going to 130 pounds after this."
Walters, a big favorite, will be in the ring against a game challenger in Marriaga who defeated him when both were amateurs. Walters warned not to put much stock in amateur results.
"There's been a lot of talk about my opponent, Miguel Marriaga, beating me as an amateur," Walters said. "I began fighting as an amateur when I was a small boy, like 7 or 8 years old. You go to the amateur fights and they put you in the ring. They say I fought Marriaga around 2008 but I really, really -- so help me -- I don't remember the fight.
Predictions: Nicholas Walters def. Manuel Marriago by unanimous decision, Felix Verdejo def. Ivan Najera by KO (Round 4).
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