The first round saw Mancha stalking Walker around the ring as the two light-heavyweights picked each other off and sought openings.
Walkerâs background includes karate - he trains with GLORY welterweight Raymond Daniels - and that was evident in his lateral movement and darting in and out with long straight shots. Mancha trains with local Muay Thai legend Malaipet and had the methodical relentless forward movement so typical of that style.
Points were scored back and forth in the first round and it got interesting right at the end when Walker clearly rocked Mancha with a hard left hand just before the bell. That turned out to be the signal for war - the second round was a non-stop barrage of bombs from both fighters and the crowd loved it.
Advantage passed back and forth as the two engaged in a total slobber knocker. They staggered each other repeatedly and both looked close to being finished at times. Multiple comebacks were staged; just as one would receive a blow which rocked him he would land one of his own and suddenly the tables would turn.
However, the round of outstanding action was marred at the end as Mancha appeared to hit Walker after the bell, Walker already in the process of turning away to go to his corner. The shot staggered him into the ropes and had the doctor come in to take a look at him.
Referee âBigâ John McCarthy gave Mancha a stern talking-to for that one, but it proved irrelevant because when the third round started Mancha was able to drop a still-wobbly Walker almost instantly. He regained his feet and looked to be on the way to beating the refereeâs count but failed to raise his hands in timely fashion when asked to do so; McCarthy then waved the fight off.
Mancha himself was still badly rocked even as the official decision was being read out and his post-fight interview was taking place. âHe told me hook, right hand, uppercut⊠actually I donât even really remember what I did,â he said.
