Walters’ dynamite fists worry Donaire

MANILA, Philippines — Nonito Donaire Jr. is busy looking for ways to handle Nicholas Walters’ power.

The WBA super world featherweight champion Sunday sounded that concern on Twitter three weeks before his unification title fight with Walters on Oct. 20 as he acknowledged the Jamaican’s high-caliber fists that have sent eight of his last nine opponents to dreamland.

The 28-year-old Walters, the WBA regular champion nicknamed “Axe Man,” is known for his sledge-hammer punches that systematically wear down his foes.

That power was on full display last May in Macau against Vic Darchinyan as Walters chopped the tough Armenian like a log, decking him once in the second round and twice in the fifth to steal the limelight from Donaire in a fight card the Filipino headlined.

But the 31-year-old Donaire (33-2-0 with 21 knockouts) said he was not easily daunted by Walters’ power. Donaire had knocked out Darchinyan twice before.

Feared by foes for his counterpunching and lethal left hook, Donaire said he is confident he and his trainer-father Nonito Sr. can devise a battle plan for the encounter set at StubHub Center in Carson, California.

There are reports that the Donaires have moved to trainer Robert Garcia’s Oxnard gym in northern California from their Las Vegas home to prepare against Walters.

By picking the taller and younger Walters (24-0-0 with 21 KOs), Donaire hopes to gain a measure of respect from pundits and, at the same time line, himself up for lucrative fights.

The “Filipino Flash” is under fire from critics who doubt his worth as a featherweight following his lackluster performances in three previous fights.
After four sensational victories in 2012, Donaire was shut out by Guillermo Rigondeaux, then barely got past Darchinyan and Simpiwe Vetyeka in their showdown for the super featherweight crown last May.