CONAH Walker’s last performance was like something out of a movie, blurring the boundary between reality and fantasy.
Suddenly, he found himself trapped inside a hellish nightmare, forced to trudge through laborious spells of minimal action and awkward exchanges.
Without being a slow burner, either, the story of his fight was more underpinned by a painfully dull tempo, at no point appearing likely to catch fire but instead steer him towards a far bleaker conclusion.
In what could only be described as a stunning plot twist, though, Walker, 15-3-1 (6 KOs), tore up the uninspiring script and injected a degree of ferocity into his previously one-sided clash with Harry Scarff, orchestrating a truly remarkable fairytale ending in the process.
In doing so, the Wolverhampton man not only captivated his home fans but also showcased his tremendous resolve, illustrating the fact that boxing is, in many ways, a metaphor for life.
“In life – as well as boxing – you can’t just stop at the first hurdle,” Walker told Boxing News. “If you lose your job [for example], then you’ve got to find another one.
“You keep going until you find what you’re looking for – and that’s how I live my life. I always believed that the [right hand] was coming [against Scarff].
“The day you stop believing is the day you give up – not just in boxing, but in life.”
Shortly after his come-from-behind victory in January, Walker revealed that much of his never-say-die attitude stems from a desire to provide for his son.
He has, of course, always possessed a fiercely dogged mentality, yet the demanding nature of becoming a father has only taken that to another level.
“It’s not about me anymore; it’s all about him [his son],” Walker explained. “I’ve always worked my arse off, so now it’s my job to make sure that my son hasn’t got to worry about anything in life.
“I want him to travel the world, witnessing things that maybe I’ll never get the chance to see.”
Sure enough, Walker wasted little time before getting the ball rolling, as the pair jetted off for a richly-deserved holiday following his 11th-round finish over Scarff.
But while the thought of sipping on margaritas remained appealing for a few days, at least, the newly-crowned British and Commonwealth champion soon turned his attention back to his craft.
“It’s all sunshine and rainbows for the first two weeks, celebrating the win, but then it soon becomes about what’s next,” Walker said.
“That’s how I live my life. It’s all well and good becoming a champion, but it’s imperative for me to focus on securing more big nights as well.
“We went over to Mexico for an all-inclusive [two-week holiday], so I had my fair share of eating and the occasional bit of drink.
“But that’s what I needed after a busy few years. I’d done three back-to-back camps leading up to that Harry Scarff fight, so my body was shot to bits.
“Now, [that rest] is paying dividends; I’m firing on all cylinders.”
It was not long after returning from Mexico that Walker joined forces with Manchester trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, elevating his preparation ahead of a welterweight showdown with Liam Taylor this Saturday.
Making the first defence of his Lonsdale Belt, the 30-year-old will feature on the undercard of Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr at the Resorts World Arena, Birmingham.
Yet, regardless of what his opponent brings to the ring, Walker remains convinced that his skill set, and more specifically his robust mindset, should once again see him emerge victorious.
“I’ve been in there with loads of different styles, competing at title level for the last six to eight fights,” he highlighted. “Whereas [Taylor has] been a bit stagnant, and his age is probably getting to him now.
“It could be tough for a few rounds but, once I work him out, it’ll be the Conah Walker show.
“I’m a winner at heart. When it comes to finding a way [to win], and not showing any signs of weakness, I can be a real stubborn bastard.
“I also like to give hope to the people that have come from nothing. Whatever I’m doing in my life, I can hopefully inspire these young kids.”
