A Nanaimo pugilist used punching power to score a big win on the weekend.
Ross Walker of Tomari Martial Arts defeated Michael Kechichian of Vancouver via third-round knockout at a card Friday at the Pearkes Recreation Centre in Saanich.
Don Arnott, Tomari trainer, said Walker dominated the first two rounds before finishing the fight against Kechichian (6-5), who was B.C.’s No. 2-ranked middleweight.
Arnott said Walker (5-0) has shown improvement in all areas, including punching power.
“He was more [known as] the quick, very fast, good-combos, in-and-out, very slick fighter,” said the trainer. “But this guy he just fought was a real tough fighter and he dropped him, one punch. It wasn’t a combination. He countered him when he was coming in for a body punch, just a nice, straight right hand that put the guy out, boom.”
Walker, an assistant coach of the Nanaimo Buccaneers junior B hockey team, hadn’t fought in more than a year as he finished his studies at Vancouver Island University, but since graduating, had been stepping up his training.
This recent win has Arnott looking at possibilities to set up a boxing card in Nanaimo centred around the local fighter.
“We’re just excited because he got the big win and we want to see something bigger happen for him,” Arnott said.
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