Talking to Crystina Poncher for Top Rank at the media workouts earlier this week, the Jamaican champion said of the opportunity to box at the Garden;
“Well, for me it’s an honour to fight in Madison Square Garden. A lot of good fighters and fights took place there, so for me personally it’s an honour. I’m getting the opportunity to display my talent to the world and to my fans and that’s what I’m gonna do.”
Despite winning his title back in December 2012, it wasn’t until his last fight against Nonito Donaire (Oct 2014), in which the ‘Filipino Flash’ was stopped in 6 – that Walters was truly announced to the wider boxing public.
Of that fight and opportunity, he said;
“I have to say thanks to Nonito – he didn’t have to take that fight and he gave me an opportunity and he exposes me to the world and to the boxing public – and now the people of boxing, the boxing public know me more than ever. I take a lot from that fight and I learn a lot from that fight.”
“Nonito was no ordinary opponent. He was very tough guy, a very great champion and I’m very happy that he gave me that opportunity.”
It would appear that Marriaga intends to follow Walter’s own blueprint for success. If the Donaire victory catapaulted him into the limelight, then a victory for Marriaga against Walters will surely do the same?
Walters, however, has no intention of allowing this to happen;
“I know he’s coming in hungry for my title. I know he’s coming in hungry for the fame, I know he’s coming in hungry for everything but I’m hungry also. It’s gonna be two hungry fighters, two hungry lions in the ring. If you are the ‘King of the Jungle’ then you can’t let another lion come in and take your pride, you know what I’m saying? You gotta defend it.”
“I don’t think this fight will end in a decision because he’s a heavy handed puncher and I’m a heavy handed puncher, so in this fight someone gonna win by knockout. And that’s what the boxing fans want. They want knockouts and that’s what we’re working for.”
Twitter @Undilutedpoison