Nicholas Walters, Jamaica’s former featherweight champion of the world, now flexing his muscles at lightweight, chalked up another win to his comeback trail with a decisive 10-round unanimous decision over Joseph Adorno at the ProBox headliner in Plant City, Florida’s Whitesands Events Center on a recent Wednesday.
At 38, Walters, shaking off the cobwebs from a six-and-a-half-year break last year, showed he still had the moves, outmaneuvering Adorno for the better part of the fight.
In the fourth, Adorno managed to sneak in a solid body shot and a pair of lefts to the midsection, momentarily commanding Walters’ regard. A series of body blows from Adorno marked the end of an engaging round.
The fifth saw Adorno brimming with newfound energy, unleashing a sleek combo early on. Yet Walters, ever the ring tactician, reclaimed the narrative, methodically targeting the body till the round’s end.
The drama intensified in the sixth as Adorno’s overhand right sent shockwaves through Walters, hinting at a potential broken nose. Adorno’s uppercut at the round’s close stood out as a highlight.
Advancing to the eighth, Walters pressed on even as Adorno’s offensive waned. Despite Adorno landing a solid right, Walters dominated the round with his relentless activity.
In response to Walters’ aggression in the ninth, Adorno landed a swift left to the head. Nevertheless, Walters maintained his onslaught, piercing Adorno’s defense with his jab and battering the body. A post-bell jab from Adorno cost him a point, further tilting the scales.
The final round unfolded in the tenth, with Walters and Adorno exchanging blows. Walters, showcasing his class, unleashed a flurry of body-uppercut combos. A stealthy right hand to Adorno’s head marked a pivotal moment, as Walters pursued his adversary, unleashing a barrage until the end.
Adorno’s record took a dip to 18 victories (15 by knockout), four defeats, and a couple of draws.
Walters also etched his name in the annals by being the inaugural Jamaican to clinch a world boxing title on native soil, overpowering Daulis Prescott with a 7th-round TKO at Kingston’s National Indoor Sports Centre for the WBA World Featherweight crown.
