HBO Boxing Weigh-in Results: Nicholas Walters Misses Badly, Loses Title on Scale

While Jamaican knockout artist Nicholas Walters might not have been defeated as a pro just yet in his career, he lost his world championship Friday afternoon.

The “Axe Man” was set to defend his WBA featherweight title tomorrow night in the main event of an HBO Championship Boxing-televised card in Madison Square Garden in New York, but Walters failed to make the 126-pound limit both times he tried to weigh in.

After his challenger, Colombia’s Miguel Marriaga (20-0, 18 KOs) officially weighed in at 125.2 pounds, Walters missed his target. On his first try, Walters weighed 127.4 pounds and was given extra time to cut the excess poundage. But when he came back 90 minutes later, he was still bloated at 127 pounds.
Because he missed weight, he was forced to vacate his championship, a title he’s held since knocking out Daulis Prescott in the seventh round on December 8, 2012. Walters had defended it three times -- all via knockout -- but he will not be able to defend or win it (again) tomorrow night.

The fight will go on as scheduled but only Marriaga can win the WBA championship. If Walters (25-0, 21 KOs) is victorious, the belt will remain vacant.

HBO Championship Boxing Weigh-in Results:

Nicholas Walters (127.4) vs. Miguel Marriaga (125.2)
Felix Verdejo (133) vs. Ivan Najera (131.4)
Sean Monaghan (175.8) vs. Fulgencio Zuniga (174.8)
George Arias (227.2) vs. Eric Cason (198.2)
Mike Reed (140.2) vs. Luis Joel Gonzalez (140.2)
Jason Sosa (130.8) vs. Santiago Bustos (129.8)
Christopher Diaz (127) vs. Marcello Gallardo (126.4)
Darren Goodall (167.8) vs. Dave Tamaso (166.4)