WBA Super World featherweight champion Nicholas Walters lost his title today by failing to make weight in advance of Saturday’s fight against Miguel Marriaga at New York’s Madison Square Garden.

Walters weighed in at 127.4 lbs., 1.4 lbs. over the featherweight limit. He was given an hour and a half to lose the extra poundage, but he only succeeded in dropping a pound.

“I’m coming off an eight-month layoff,” said the disappointed Walters. “I tried everything.”

Top Rank Vice President Carl Moretti was sympathetic.

“He worked out as hard as he could,” Moretti said, “but the last couple of pounds are always hard for him to get off. He tried to, but physically he felt he would have nothing left if he kept working to get that last pound off.”

The fight will go on as scheduled, but if Marriaga wins, he will be crowned the new champion.

If he loses, the title will be vacant.

This article was penned by the author who is not related to the WBA and the statements, expressions or opinions referenced herein are that of the author alone and not the WBA.