SANTA MONICA, California – The promoters made sure Nonito Donaire Jr. and Nicholas Walters didn’t cross paths during Wednesday’s media workout at the 202 Fitness Gym here.
Otherwise, the two fighters could have squared off right there and then, in a makeshift ring put up at the back portion of the neat fitness center, just one of many in this cool beachfront city.
During the interviews, they spoke of knocking each other out.
Walters came in first, before noon, on board a full-sized Top Rank van that took him from his hotel in Carson. He arrived with his team and headed straight to work.
The undefeated boxer from Montego Bay in Jamaica shadow-boxed and skipped ropes before the cameras, then climbed the ring with his chief trainer.
Walters, 24-0 with 20 knockouts, worked the mitts for a couple of rounds. Then he got off the ring, and gave interviews to the boxing media.
Nothing has changed from his earlier prediction that he would knock Donaire out in their battle on Saturday for the WBA featherweight title at the StubHub Center in Carson.
“Definitely I’m thinking about the knockout. I just don’t want an A. I want an A-plus. A knockout is an A-plus. I always think about the knockout,” he said.
Walters, at 28 three years younger than Donaire and at 5’7” just a shade taller, must have gotten used to knocking out people inside the ring.
In his 24 victories, 20 came by way of knockout.
“Let’s see how it goes on Saturday. If he doesn’t come out the way he’s supposed to come out then he’s going to get stopped,” said Walters.
If you look at Walters, you can see where the power comes from. At 126 pounds, he has the body of an elite athlete, and he also has the mind.
“I was born to fight,” he said.
A boxing scribe asked Walters how it was possible for him to knock 20 opponents out, and he was quick to throw the answer.
“Because I hit hard,” Walters said.
“I don’t see this fight going 12. I just can’t picture this fight going 12,” he told another group of boxing writers.
Then he left, and after a while, Donaire came in with his bodyguards.
Donaire, 33-2 with 21 knockouts, granted interviews even before climbing the ring, and was no different with what Walters said before him.
“We both have speed, we both have power. It’s an explosive fight. This is going to end in a knockout. I will go into the ring and do my best,” said the fighter in red.
Donaire climbed the ring, and shared the small space with his wife, a former taekwondo champion, and 14-month-old son, who may grow up as a fighter as well.
Donaire called on his son, and put the mitts in front of the little Donaire, who threw a couple of punches before turning around.
The 31-year-old Donaire was in a jovial mood, at times inside the ring strutting to the music.
Back to the fight, he said he’s ready to wage war on Saturday.
“No worries at all. I’m going in there and do my talking inside the ring,” he said.
Then again, he talked about a knockout.
“Twelve rounds is long. I’d rather finish it as early as possible,” Donaire said.
By this time, Walters was out of the building.