Warm Welcome For New Boxing Champion

The World Boxing Association (WBA) Super Featherweight Champion, Nicholas ‘Axeman’ Walters, was given a warm welcome when he arrived at the Sangster International Airport, in Montego Bay, on November 19.

Mayor of Montego Bay, His Worship, Councillor Glendon Harris and representatives from the tourism fraternity, headed the large crowd of supporters and well wishers who were on hand to greet the champion, who is from St. James.

The champion, who was accompanied by his father/trainer, Job Walters, and other members of his team, arrived from his training base in Panama, following his victory over Nonito Donaire in Carson City, California, on October 18, to win the title.

Addressing the welcome reception, Mayor Harris hailed the occasion as another “wonderful day” for Jamaica, noting that on November 18, the Reggae Boyz won the Caribbean Cup, after beating Trinidad and Tobago in a tense penalty shoot-out.

“To welcome you (Nicholas Walters) back home after winning the WBA World Super Featherweight Champion crown, it is really a wonderful day and we are all in very high spirits at this time. We are working to make Montego Bay the sports tourism capital and with you as an ambassador internationally, your father Job will be getting lots of requests to train up-coming boxers,” the Mayor said.

Representative of Appliance Traders Limited (ATL), Andre Bagaloo, made a presentation of a motor vehicle to the boxer, to ensure that all his transportation needs, including comfort and safety, would be taken care of by the ATL Group.

In his reply, the new champion expressed appreciation for the “warm” welcome he received from everyone.

“I want to say thanks to everyone for the love and the warm welcome back home. I am very happy to see my people (especially) my Mom as I have been away from Jamaica for the past 11 months. This year has been hard as I have been doing a lot of work, a lot of sparring … but it has turned out to be a most successful year for me,” he said.

“I am grateful for what my Jamaican people have been doing for me and I say thanks to you all for your love and support,” the champion added.