Vasyl Lomachenko-Nicholas Walters title tilt flying under radar but worth your attention

It wasn't too long ago that fans were salivating over the prospects of the very bout HBO will televise Saturday.

Buried beneath two pay-per-view shows in November and Nicholas Walters' failure to appear in a fight this year, the Jamaican's title challenge of Vasyl Lomachenko has flied squarely under the radar.

The Thanksgiving holiday break surely didn't help matters, with Las Vegas barren for the 130-pound title tilt at The Cosmopolitan, and the eyes of the sports world on Turkey Day football.

But Lomachenko-Walters is worth getting excited for (10:30 p.m. ET, preceded by Andre Ward-Sergey Kovalev replay).

It once was considered one of the best fights that could be made in boxing, and though Walters' ho-hum 2015 coupled with his disappearance from television pulled down his name value, it should be fireworks in the ring.

"They call Walters the Axe Man for a reason - he searches and destroys," said Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who will promote his 2000th fight card Saturday.

"He is a tremendous puncher and he is in with a technician who has enormous talent in boxing not only defensively, but offensively, so this is a can't-miss fight and I want the people to realize that. Not only do I believe that - it will be a fight of the year candidate."

What really makes this matchup so compelling is the contrast in styles. As Arum pointed out, Walters is hammer-fisted, and his pressure style should keep the two-time Olympic gold medalist on his toes.

Lomachenko, of course, might just be the most talented boxer in the world. Though the Ukrainian only has seven pro fights under his belt, he has already captured titles in two weight classes (126 pounds and 130).

Arum tried to finalize the fight for the spring, but Walters balked at the offered purse. Lomachenko even suggested Walters receive $300,000 from his own earnings if the challenger could pull the upset, but no dice.

With Walters (26-0-1, 21 KOs) out of the ring since a December draw with Jason Sosa in one of the biggest robberies in recent memory -Walters clearly won, and I had it a shutout from ringside - Arum finally convinced each side to put pen to paper.

"I wanted to let different people know, people outside of boxing, to know me," said Lomachenko, whose highlights have gained attention on YouTube for his advanced technique. " I think the boxing game is one that people have forgotten about and they are not enjoying it as much. I want to bring (it) back and show how interesting boxing can be. I am the motherboard."

Lomachenko (6-1, 4 KOs) is surprisingly a massive favorite; Sportsbook Review odds reveal Walters is about a 5-1 underdog.

A lot of money came on Lomachenko after the odds opened him close to a 3-1 favorite, and it's easy to see why most experts are picking him.

He's the superior boxer and athlete, adept at creating the smallest of opening and capitalizing. He throws punches at different speeds to throw opponents off rhythm, tap, tap, tapping until the big punch breaks through guard.

Lomachenko can really crack - his knockout of Roman Martinez in June to win a junior lightweight title is one of the best of 2016.

And he, perhaps, possesses the best boxing mind in the game.

But it says here Walters, who is strong as an ox and punches like a mule, will be able to make Lomachenko uncomfortable enough to manufacture some big moments, especially early.

And if his big right hand lands flush - the way it did on Vic Darchinyan and Nonito Donaire - Lomachenko, too, will likely be knocked out in spectacular fashion.

"I don't think this is a different Lomachenko from the guy that lost to (Orlando) Salido - he is the same Lomachenko," Walters, 30, said, referring to his opponent's loss in his second pro fight. "They say a leopard cannot change his spots right?

"Since he did lose to Salido, he can be technical all he wants, but I am in the hurt business - this is a gladiator sport and I fight all of my fights like that, I fight like a gladiator. He can come in with his technical fight on Saturday and I am going to be up for it and put on a helluva show on Saturday night."

But if Lomachenko can stay away from Walters' hydrogen bombs and outfox him on his way to victory, the 28-year-old will finally have a signature win.

And one day, maybe we'll look back at this night as the arrival of the best pound-for-pound fighter in the word.

(Photo by Mikey Williams, Top Rank Boxing)