Last week, Kurt Walker told BoxingScene that he was feeling the weight of expectation as he prepared to headline last night’s Conlan Boxing show at Belfast’s famous Ulster Hall.
The featherweight thrived under the spotlight and showed a bit of everything during his seventh round stoppage of James Beech Jnr.
Aware that he wouldn’t be able to match the former amateur star for boxing ability, Beech tried to press forward from the opening bell but was constantly frustrated by the 2020 Olympian’s clever movement and smart punch picking.
Walker’s skills earned him a collection of medals from major amateur championships but his punching power has been questioned through his short professional career. He clearly felt like he needed to make his mark on the 126lb division and although he could have boxed and moved and skated to a decision victory, he chose his moments to hold his feet and work inside with Beech.
By the midway point in the fight, Walker was beginning to hurt a bloodied Beech with shots to the body and his corner took the decision to stop the fight after seven rounds.
It was Walker’s most impressive, well rounded performance as a professional and it came against his most accomplished opponent to date.
“It’s my first stoppage since my first fight so it’s good to get it in a big one,” the 29 year old from Lisburn said after the fight.
“He came on stronger at the start than I thought the would but for once I didn’t get pushed back. I held my ground and I think I showed a bit of bossiness that I was learning in camp.”
The brave Beech, 16-6 (2 KOs), has become something of a measuring stick for the country’s top featherweights. Dennis McCann stopped him in eight while British and Commonwealth champion, Nathaniel Collins, and Hopey Price both ended matters in the seventh.
Before the fight, Walker, 11-0 (2 KOs), expressed his desire to begin mixing with Britain’s best 126lbs fighters and declared his interest in boxing Price. The 24 year old recently began training again after major hand surgery and is next in line for a shot at Collins, who himself is set to announce his next fight. Zak Miller pushed Collins to the wire last November but he is in preparation for a vacant English title fight with Lewis Frimpong on June 1.
Walker may have to wait for a big domestic clash but can stay busy by defending the WBA ranking belt that he won last night and plot a path through the governing bodies rankings.
“I think I was always gonna be compared – no matter what I did – to the likes of Dennis McCann and Nathaniel Collins,” he said. “I did it at around about the same time as everybody else so I’m in the conversation now for big fights.
“I think I showed them [Conlan Boxing] a different side of me too. There’s gonna be big nights and hopefully I can bring some big title fights back here in the summer.”