Boxing star Conah Walker targeting world honours after coaching switch
Wolverhampton welterweight Conah Walker has outlined his world title ambition as he prepares to make the first defence of his British crown.
The 29-year-old takes on mandatory challenger Liam Taylor at Birmingham’s BP Pulse Arena on Saturday, June 21, defending the Lonsdale belt he claimed with a stunning 11th round knockout of former champion Harry Scarff in January.
It will also be his first fight under the guidance of new trainer, Jamie Moore. Walker, who was coached by Richie Ghent at Bilston’s RG Boxing Academy during his current run of four wins in five fights, believes the switch to Moore’s Manchester gym will help him make the jump from domestic to international level.
He told the Express & Star: “It is nothing against Richie. He is still a good friend of mine. He always will be.
“It was strictly down to having a fresh start, re-lighting the flame.
“I felt like I was in my comfort zone a bit too much. I needed to get myself out of that. I am up here in Manchester from Monday to Thursday, away from my family and luxuries. It’s a clean start.”
Moore, a former British and European super welterweight champion, coached former world featherweight champion Carl Frampton, while world super lightweight challenger Jack Catterall is among his current charges.
Walker continued: “I am on the world title hunt now. That is the new goal. Starting out in my career I always had hopes of becoming a world champion, as we all do.
“But realistically, I was telling myself the goal was to be British champion. Now I have done that, I want to strive for more.
“I want to become European and world champion. I am trying to give myself every chance possible to reach that goal.
“Jamie Moore has a wealth of experience, not only in fighting but also coaching.
“There are champions in the gym. I am around other guys that want the same as me.
“I feel like being there, I am going to bridge the gap between British and European and world level.”
Firstly, he must get past Taylor, who has won 28 of his 31 bouts and has previously held the WBO European crown.
The 34-year-old from Lancashire was originally offered the chance to face Scarff in January but allowed Walker to step in, on the agreement he would get to fight the winner.
Walker said: “He’s very experienced but I think I will be too much for him. I feel I am in my prime.
“I think it is going to take a really good fighter to beat me at this stage of my career - and it’s not him.
“At this stage of my career I am not going to be getting any walkovers and I don’t expect to. If I am going to become world champion, I need to be beating these guys.”
The fight is on the undercard of Shabaz Masoud’s first defence of his IBO super-bantamweight title.
Stoke’s Masoud, who began his career at Wellington ABC in Shropshire, takes on Liverpool’s Peter McGrail aiming to extend his perfect professional record.
The 29-year-old claimed an impressive win over previously unbeaten former champion Liam Davies last November.
Birmingham’s Olympic hero Galal Yafai faces Mexico’s Francisco Rodriguez for the interim WBC flyweight title. Victory would set up a shot at Japan’s unified WBC and WBA world champion, Kenshiro Tejeri.
Unbeaten Walsall flyweight Hamza Uddin is also on the bill, aiming to make it five wins from five professional fights.
