Boxing
Why Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor could steal the show on Yafai–Rodriguez Jr undercard
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Every boxing card has its sleeper hit – the under-the-radar contest that ends up stealing the show. On Saturday night at Resorts World Arena in Birmingham, it could be Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor that delivers the most drama.
While the headline act sees Galal Yafai defend his WBC interim flyweight title against Francisco Rodriguez Jr, it’s the British welterweight title bout between Walker (15-3-1) and Taylor (28-2-1) that promises to be the night’s war live on DAZN.
There’s no world title at stake, but the stakes couldn’t be higher. At 30 and 34 respectively, both men know a loss here likely ends any hope of reaching the sport’s highest level. For the winner, the dream lives on.
Walker comes into the bout riding momentum. After losing a close fight to Lewis Crocker last year – a unanimous decision many felt he edged – he bounced back with a low-key win over Lewis Ritson and then stopped Harry Scarff in the 11th round to claim the British and Commonwealth belts.
He has since vacated the Commonwealth title, with only the Lonsdale belt on the line this weekend. Still, the frustration remains. Crocker has since beaten Paddy Donovan (via disqualification) and could soon be fighting for the vacant IBF world title – a path Walker might feel was his for the taking.
Walker’s road has always been a hard one. Few fighters win the British title after losing an English title bout, but the Wolverhampton man has made a habit of proving people wrong.
Taylor’s story has its own heartbreak. The Lancastrian had his shot at the British and Commonwealth titles back in 2019 against Chris Jenkins. He knocked Jenkins down in the second round and looked on course for victory – only for a cut from an accidental head clash to stop the fight in the fourth. It went down as a technical draw. Had the bout lasted just four seconds longer, it would have gone to the scorecards – and Taylor would have won.
No rematch followed. Jenkins lost the belts to Ekow Essuman in 2021, while Taylor pressed on, eventually getting a shot at European champion David Avanesyan.
It proved a step too far. Avanesyan, fresh off beating Josh Kelly, knocked Taylor down in the first round and stopped him in the second. The Armenian went on to challenge Terence Crawford and Jaron “Boots” Ennis for world titles. Taylor had to regroup, winning the WBO European belt the following year.
Now, at 34, this may be his final shot at the belt he has long chased.
Neither man will be thinking about world titles on Saturday night. For Walker, winning the Lonsdale belt was always the dream. For Taylor, it’s the title that got away.
With careers, redemption and pride all on the line – and both men known for fan-friendly styles – this one has the makings of a barnburner.
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