LEROY BROWN, Star Writer

Fresh from his sensational sixth-round TKO victory over Irving Berry on October 22 in Panama, Jamaica's World Boxing Association (WBA) Fedelatin featherweight champion, Nicholas Walters, has now moved up two places in the world ratings to No. 2.

This puts him in striking distance of a world title fight that will undoubtedly come some time next year. Walters, who is Jamaica's best hope for another world boxing title, has been having a very successful run since he became a professional in 2008, and has an impressive 19-0 record, with 16 victories coming inside the distance.

Berry, who fought for the WBA featherweight title last year and lost, was his most accomplished opponent, and before the fight he taunted Walters that he used to beat him up as a sparring partner, and that the fight would be much the same. Walters predicted that just the opposite would happen, and kept his promise to knock out Berry.

He was in devastating form throughout the encounter, and in the sixth round Berry's trainer jumped into the ring and called a halt to the fight, with his boxer under intense pressure from the hard-punching Jamaican.

With this victory, Walters has now moved to the No. 2 contender spot behind champion Celestino Caballero from Panama and Miguel Garcia from the USA. After the Berry fight, Walters stated that he wanted Caballero next, but that will not come in a hurry.

He suffered a cut over his right eye in the Berry encounter after a clash of heads in the third round of the fight, and that will take some time to heal properly. His manager, Jacques Deschamps, has also stated that he is in no hurry for the title fight, and will take it "when the time is right".

Deschamps is one of the most savvy managers in the sport today, and there is no doubt that he will make the bid for the title fight when he is confident that his fighter is ready for the ultimate challenge.