Conah Walker targets world title shot after digging deep to beat Sam Eggington

Conah Walker believes he is a world champion in the making after Saturday’s sensational win over Sam Eggington.

The Wolverhampton star stopped his Stourbridge rival in the 10th round of a brutal all-Midlands bout which lived up to the hype and more at the Civic Hall.

Walker was behind on two of the judges’ scorecards as Eggington threatened to ruin his homecoming, before finding the knockout blow to continue his brilliant run and earn another signature victory.

The 30-year-old, who has outlined his ambition of one day headlining Molineux, now wants to bring even bigger nights to Wolverhampton and called out Conor Benn in the ring after Saturday’s win.

While that particular fight seems unlikely at this stage, a re-match with reigning IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker is a strong possibility.

Speaking to the Express & Star, Walker said: “I want a world title. I keep proving it time and again, beating guys people don’t want to fight.

“Sam Eggington had not been in the ring for 13 months because everyone knows it is a tough night’s work.

“I just need a stroke of luck to get that world title shot. But it is coming, man. I believe.

“I give out good energy. I tell the universe what I want and it has a way of finding me.

“It is a crazy world. I just believe I have to keep my feet on the ground, keep working hard and I can be world champion.”

Saturday was the latest stunning victory to add to a collection which, in the last 18 months alone, includes remarkable knockout wins over Harry Scarff and Pat McCormack.

For large parts of the contest, however, it appeared Walker may have bitten off more than he could chew, the decision to step up to super welterweight to face the naturally bigger Eggington appearing a major error.

Eggington, in his 46th and possibly last professional bout, was superb in the early rounds of a fight which caught fire right from the first bell.

It was the 32-year-old, himself a former British and European champion at welterweight, who was bossing it. Walker, his face red and cut above the right eye, looked increasingly frustrated and fortunate to avoid censure for a clash of heads which opened a cut on Eggington’s forehead.

Momentum began to change in the eighth round. A flurry of Walker pressure saw Eggington drop to the knee following a powerful left to the body.

Even then, it seemed the older man had recovered and he led by two rounds on two scorecards heading into the 10th, before a series of right-hands left him slumped on the rope and gave referee Steve Gray no option but to jump in.

“I found a way, didn’t I?” said Walker, who has now won seven of his last eight fights - including four in a row by knockout.

“I went to the trenches. In all fairness, we got cracking straight away and that was not the idea.

“The idea was to try and drag a bit of steam out of him first. But the crowd got to me and I wanted to give them a night to remember.”

He continued: “I like to be the guy who does things other people can’t.

“Taking on Sam was a massive risk. He was better than we thought. He showed a lot of skill.

“He showed a lot more to his game than I thought. He is one of those fighters you watch and you think you can get away with things but he is better than he looks.”

Walker, who is due to become a father for the second time, plans to take a short break to spend time with his family but there is understandably huge excitement about the future, with the belief the best is still to come.

“It was emotional, fighting back in Wolverhampton,” he said. “I knew that would be the case.

“I could have sold the whole place out on my own. But we can go bigger, we can definitely go to Molineux.

“What always gets me through is the determination to put food on the table and give my kids a better life.

“I have had a mad life. I need my kids to have a better life. The drive is for them. I have too much determination, too much grit and too much vision for success.”