Vasyl Lomacheno dominates Nicholas Walters, wins by TKO

Sub Lead27-Nov-16by John J. Raspanti

By John J. Raspanti

Lomachenko victorious

WBO Super featherweight champion Vasyl Lomachenko dazzled Nicholas Walters for 20 minutes, forcing the former champion to quit after seven one-sided rounds at the Cosmopolitan in Las Vegas, NV. Saturday night.

Coming into the match, Walters, nicknamed “The Axe Man, appeared to have the kind of talent that might make the much decorated Lomachenko work a little. He was undefeated in 26 fights--and had iced 21 opponents.

Instead, he was dominated from the opening bell, finding it virtually impossible to hit the faster Lomachenko with anything significant.

Lomachenko (7-1, 5 KOs) took away Walters most effective weapon, his right hand, and peppered him with shots from various angles. His jab flashed in the opening stanza. Walters looked to counter, but found only air.

Lomachenko moved his attack downstairs in round two. His lateral movement and hand speed had Walters constantly on the defensive. Walters tried to get off first in the next few rounds, but Lomachenko fired double jabs and stinging lefts to the head and body.

Walters grew more and more frustrated as fight progressed. His corner yelled at him to uncork his powerful right hand. Easier said than done. How do you hit the invisible man? Lomachenko continued to dominate the fight—while Walters had no answers.

Lomachenko victorious

Lomachenko flashed combinations in round seven. Walters absorbed the blows and tried to fight back. Lomachenko was now toying with his opponent. Lomachenko stepped to his left and pounded Walters to the head and body. A hard hook staggered Walters.

He wandered back to his corner completely demoralized.

Between the seventh and eighth round, referee Tony Weeks was told by Walters trainer and father, Job Walters, that the fight was over. Weeks confirmed this decision seconds later with the fighter himself, bringing a shocking end to the much-anticipated match.

"Walters is a good fighter," Lomachenko said through a translator. "He’s really strong, but I think he just stood there, which made it easy for me to win."

“He’s a great fighter,” said Walters, hearing boos for probably the first time in his career. “He hit me hard with a number of punches."