Double-celebration for Conah Walker after statement late KO to help 'change life' of expected newborn
Conah Walker delivered on his bid to "shut the bookies up" with a shock statement late knockout of Pat McCormack in Monaco.
Wolverhampton boxer Walker continued his rise up the sport's reckoning with a tireless and polished 12th-round KO of Team GB Olympic hero McCormack.
The 30-year-old from the Black Country delivered a flurry of punishing punches in the closing stages of the contest to leave Sunderland's McCormack on the ropes and then the canvas outside of the ring.
It was a statement success for British welterweight champion Walker to land more domestic bragging rights - and it is a double cause for celebration as 'the Wolf' revealed he is due to become a father for a second time.
"I visualised it, I manifested it - that was just how it played out," said Walker, who was roared on by 100 Black Country fans in Monte-Carlo.
"People watch me and think 'he's not that good', but I do little things, in the fifth, sixth, seventh rounds... I'm a real student of the game and have been since I was 18. I'll just keep getting better.
"Nobody is going to take tonight off me, it's changed my life."
He added: "I needed to make a statement. I needed to shut the bookies up. There is a massive reason why nobody would beat me tonight.
"I'm expecting my second baby and there was a massive carrot dangling there. That baby inside my missus' tummy, I've changed his or her life, and nobody was going to take that away from me."
McCormack started well and edged the first three fights but Walker fought back into the bout.
The pair exchanged blows between rounds six and 10 but 9/1 favourite McCormack tired badly and Walker punished him with the late flurry. Walker is now looking to rematch IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker, who controversially won on points last year.
"You've got to be confident," added Walker. "Boxing is 99 per cent mind, you can be as fit as you want, if you haven't got your mind right you are not going to execute the plan. I just believe myself, I'm very determined.
"I believe I can win a world title. I started out to win a British belt but I keep getting better. The goalposts have been moved.
"We need Crocker to prove he beat me last time. A lot of people thought I won that fight, I'll leave it to him (Eddie Hearn). Me and Eddie have that friendship. He knows I'm a good man that wants to better my life."
