BIRMINGHAM, England – Conah Walker successfully defended his British welterweight title via a seventh-round finish of Liam Taylor at the BP pulse Live.
The contest was Walker’s first under his new trainers Jamie Moore and Nigel Travis, and he delivered the knockout performance that might yet propel him into bigger fights. Walker, who rose to 16-3-1 (7 KOs) with the victory, called for a big-money fight in Saudi Arabia next. “Saudi, Turki [Alalshikh], come on – show me the money!” he responded when asked what is next.
Walker, 30, came out behind his high guard and immediately sunk a left hand into Taylor’s midsection. Taylor, 34, responded by peppering Walker with straight shots, but he was unable to gain the champion's respect. Walker again marched forwards with little respect for what was coming back from Taylor and planted in a hard right hand. Taylor flicked his jab into Walker’s face but he struggled to stop Walker from marching forwards and landing.
Walker tagged Taylor with a hard left that rocked him just as the bell sounded to call an end to the third session. Walker returned to his corner full of confidence, while Taylor, blood dripping from his nose, looked troubled. Walker began the fourth in similar fashion, and it looked as though Taylor was starting to unravel. However, he bit down on his gum shield and landed three hard straight shots that pushed Walker back. His corner cheered for more and again he pressed forwards and landed another hard right as the bell sounded.
It had been exactly what Taylor needed. He came out for the fifth round with a spring in his step and instantly landed a right hand. Walker pressed on, hoping to put an end to Taylor’s momentum, but he ate another before the round was out. After a stern word from Jamie Moore in the corner Walker increased his tempo in the sixth and had more success. He pressed Taylor back towards the ropes and fired in a left hand to the body that brought a wince from the challenger.
Walker knew that Taylor was feeling his power and he pressed forwards in the hope of finishing him. He pushed Taylor up against the ropes and smashed in shots to the head and body. The round ended and Taylor returned to his corner; his nose was broken and his eyes were swelling, and the end was only moments away. As the pair came out for the seventh Walker stuck it on Taylor, who retreated back to the corner.
The challenger decided to have one last gamble and threw a long right hand in the hope of catching Walker as he came in. He missed, however, and Walker whipped in a left hook that smashed across Taylor's chin. The shot sprayed blood across ringside, and Taylor was left in a heap on the canvas. The referee Bob Williams screamed his count as Taylor lay on his knees, but the challenger was done. The time of the stoppage was 45 seconds of round sevem. Taylor fell to 28-3-1 (14 KOs) with the defeat.