Conah Walker has no intention of disappointing fans who are anticipating fireworks when he faces Sam Eggington on Saturday.
They meet in an English Midlands derby that could catch fire and Walker – along with many others – has it pegged as a possible fight-of-the-year contender.
The 30 year old, from Wolverhampton, is ranked fifth by the WBA, and should he get through his veteran opponent he will be on the cusp of a title shot.
Walker is in the form of his life, following big wins over Harry Scarff, Liam Taylor and Pat McCormack. But the Eggington fight is one that has long appealed to him.
“I’ve been asking for Sam Eggington as long as I can remember, because it sells, for one,” Walker told BoxingScene ahead of their sold-out clash at The Halls at the University of Wolverhampton. “As you can see with how fast it sold out and the backing we’ve got behind it – and people are sort of shouting from the rooftops. So, I’ve been asking for it for a very long time and it’s come to fruition now. We was back and forth [on social media] before just saying ‘Look, we’ll try and get it sorted’ in our messages to each other.
“He tweeted, because we didn’t get the fight with Ekow [Essuman], which we wanted. He said ‘I’ve seen that Conor’s struggling for an opponent, I’ll step in’. I've retweeted, I’ve reshared it, and I’ve messaged him saying ‘Look, I’ve put your name forward as the one I want’.”
They are throwback fighters who have done the deal with a modern twist. There was little back and forth, on socials or in negotiations, and the deal was soon done. They know one another well, too.
“We’re mates,” said Walker. “We grew up around the same area. We’ve been on the scene for years. I’ve watched all his fights coming up and he’s a good man. Nothing against him, we’re just in this business to fight and make money. And we shake hands after. But as it stands, we’re going to tear each other’s face off.”
Despite their familiarity with one another, they’ve never previously shared a ring.
Walker is on fire following recent wins, while Eggington was given an uncomfortable night by Lee Cutler in his past fight in April 2025. Walker contends that if that version of Eggington shows up against him, then it will be straightforward.
“He’ll get a beatdown,” said Walker. But “The Wolf” is not anticipating that. He felt that Bournemouth’s Cutler was getting to Eggington before cuts forced the bout’s untimely stoppage.
Eggington is a battle-hardened 36-9 (20 KOs) and he has a back catalogue of thrilling fights.
Walker smiles when he is asked whether there’s a chance Eggington could get old overnight and not be what he once was.
“They’ve been saying that for the last seven years,” he responded. “Believe me, he’ll be putting everything into this camp because it’s his homecoming, too. And he knows what sort of fight it’s going to be. So I’ve got no doubt in my mind that he’s going to relight the flame and come in in the best possible shape and so will I.
“So I hope he does because we need to make a big fight for the fans. I missed out on the fight of the year just gone – it went to Conor Benn and Chris Eubank. So let’s go and get that fight of the year.”
With that in mind, Eggington is two years older at 32, and while he has had more tough fights, Walker scoffs at the notion that their mileage is very different.
“Look, he’s only two years older than me,” said Walker. “He’s only 32. It’s no different to me because, like I say, I lose any fight moving forward now, I’m back down in the pecking order. So every fight is a world-title fight for me now. I did it with [Lewis] Ritson. I took my foot off the pedal with Ritson and I paid the price. I didn’t believe I boxed as well as I could do and I come out of the fight a bit upset with myself. I’ve learned that lesson.
“You’ve got to treat every man as if he’s going to be causing you the most problems that they can. I’ve trained unbelievably hard. I’m as fit as I’ve ever been. I’m as strong as I’ve ever been. Every fight now is a world title fight.”
And that, ultimately, is what Walker wants. He’s rated by both the IBF and the WBA and with Matchroom’s backing and having previously pushed the IBF 147lbs champion Lewis Crocker all the way, Walker wants a world title.
“I believe I can be world champion,” he concluded. “I’ve done everything other than European and world now. And I believe I’m world level. And the 147 division champions, I believe I beat them all. Look, I’ve got Sam and I’ve got this homecoming to deal with, which is another thing that I’ve ticked off in my career, which I’ve always wanted to do, so this is a world title for me. This is massive. Get through Sam and then to the world we go.”
