Conah Walker gets the hometown headliner he’s been hoping for when he fights local rival Sam Eggington on May 2.

Welterweight contender Walker is 17-3-1 (8 KOs) and coming off the biggest win of his career having stopped touted Pat McCormack in Monte Carlo in December. 

The 30-year-old is trained by Jamie Moore and managed by Sam Jones and BoxingScene reported on Walker-Eggington being agreed earlier this month.

Veteran Eggington is 36-9 (20 KOs) and has been in several Fight of the Year contenders but has struggled with inactivity. His last fight came when he won a technical decision over Bournemouth’s Lee Cutler last year after a headclash caused the end of the fight in round nine. 

The Midlands rivals will meet at catchweight, given Eggington boxes at 154lbs, at the University of Wolverhampton at The Halls. 

“My dream is to fight for a world title,” said Walker.

“That dream was so close to being a reality for this fight – but the next best thing was a homecoming in Wolverhampton… And the opponent in Sam Eggington couldn’t be more fitting. It will be a special fight for the fans. Look, I’m a 147lbs fighter, Sam is a 154 fighter – but we’ve made it happen for the fans and we will put on an amazing spectacle on May 2. But there’s only one winner and that’s me.”
Eggington is convinced he is once again being overlooked.

“Lee Cutler and Joe Pigford [w ko 5] both picked me for the away corner,” he said. “Different fighters, different venues. Same result incoming. Conah Walker, you are next.”

The bill also sees Bilal Fawaz make the first defense of his British and Commonwealth titles at 154lbs against Birmingham’s 20-6-1 (8 KOs) Ryan Kelly. Fawaz is 11-1-1 (3 KOs) and won the belts against Ishmael Davis just last month.

There is also a return for Northampton’s Kieron Conway, 23-4-1 (7 KOs), after his October defeat to George Liddard. The Northampton man is moving up to super middleweight where he has been matched with the 20-2 (7 KOs) Mark Jeffers. 

Young Bristol star Tiah Mai Ayton, 19, meets experienced former European title challenger Stevi Levy, who is 15-4 (2 KOs). Ayton is 5-0.

Junaid Boston, 10-1-1 (8 KOs), and 1-0 Louie Ward have also been added to the card.

“Conah Walker is on the cusp on greatness,” said promoter Eddie Hearn. “After his sensational win in Monte Carlo over Pat McCormack, he couldn’t be closer to a world title shot. But he’s got to go through the trenches again, this time in front of his home fans. And a win over a tough, experienced operator in Sam Eggington would put an exclamation mark on his pursuit for glory.”