Twenty-nine-year-old Conah Walker made it a Horrible Night for Harry Scarff as he snatched victory from defeat after stopping Scarff in a sensational win to claim the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles. The Wolverhampton-born fighter was taking on Scarff for the titles at the Matchroom promotion show at the Nottingham arena which was streamed live on DAZN. The contest was on the undercard of the Smith v Quizza show with Walker bringing his massive following with him to Nottingham. The contest was scheduled for twelve three-minute rounds and was for the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles. Walker weighed in ten stone dead with Scarff coming in a nine stone thirteen with Michael Alexander reffing.
Switch hitting Scarff started the first round well using his jab in both stances as Walker looked to walk him down. Walker landed some good shots but Scarff won the round keeping it long and keeping Walker at bay. Walker started the second well getting on the inside and landing some good shots to the head and body, Scarff boced well at range using the jab to keep it long which just edged him the round. Walker continued to press and look to get on the inside but Scarff was keeping it at long range and landing lefts and rights, Walker bobbed and weaved looking to get on the inside but Scarff won the round. Walker came out fast in the fourth working well on the inside, Scarff who stayed in the southpaw stance continued to keep it long as Walker right eye started to close. Walker had some joy at the end of the round but Scarff won the round.
Walker continued to press in the fifth as he let shots go as he moved in, Scarff was moving well spoiling Walkers work and landing the eye-catching shots to edge the round. Scarff invited Walker in to attack as he boxed on the back foot picking Walker off with long shots and great movement. Scarff’s awkward style was working well against Walker as he looked to get on the inside and did manage to land some good shots, Scarff continued to move well and landed nice combinations on the back foot. Walker had joy in the eighth getting in on the inside and landing some good shots, Scarff looked to keep it long with Walker landing some good shots at the end to just nick it.
Scarff started the ninth round well landing nice shots from range and rocked Walker with a nice shot, Walker continued to press but Scarff won the round. Walker was showing a lot of heart in the tenth as he marched forward looking to get his shots off, Scarff continued to work well on the back foot landing the cleaner shots to win the round.
As the fight went into the championship rounds Walker knew he needed something special to win this contest, Walker stuck to his plan and press with Scarff thinking he could just see out the fight but Walker showed why he was in the fight. Walker landed a cracking right hand which stopped Scarff in his tracks, Walker then let everything go landing shots until Scarff dropped to the floor. Scarff managed to beat the count and continue with Walker moving in and landing everything he could until the ref jumped in and stopped the contest one minute twenty-three seconds into the eleventh round.
Walker crowned British and Commonwealth welterweight Champion.
Dexter’s Thoughts
Wow, what a turnaround, Conah Walker showed that with loads of heart, determination, a good game plan and a cracking right hand anything is possible. Going into the eleventh round I had Walker nine, one down and Scarff looked destined to retain his British and Commonwealth titles. Walker ripped up that script with a cracking right hand that stopped Scarff in his tracks, Scarff showed heart getting back to his feet but Walker unleashed shots until the ref stopped the contest. I have followed Walker’s career since the start when he fought Jan Prokes in a four-rounder at Walsall Town hall with Ricky Hatton in his corner in 2018. I am chuffed for Walker as he has put in the hard work to get this chance and achieve his goals. Now Walker is a British and Commonwealth champion I am sure he will be in some massive fights in the future, especially with Riyadh season he could get the call from Turkey.
Congratulations to Conah Walker on winning the titles and being entered into the Bbcolumn Hall of Fame.
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