If it is true that a happy fighter is a dangerous fighter, Conah Walker’s welterweight rivals might be best advised to steer clear of the 28-year-old.

In an era where fighters publicly talk about boxing being a business and only fighting if the numbers make sense, Walker walks to the ring for every fight with a big smile on his face. The Wolverhampton man is on a tear at the moment and believes that his love of what he does is making the difference. 

“As soon as they sign the contract to get paid, they’ve done their job. If you’re just doing it for money and so that you can say that you’re a boxer, you’ll get beaten by a man like me who’s a dog. That’s the bottom line,” he told BoxingScene.com.

“I don’t let anyone off the hook. I hate losing. I lost three times in the amateurs out of about 33 fights. I cried after every one. I’ve cried after the losses I’ve had as a pro. It isn’t just losing a fight to me. It cuts deeper than that. I’ll do everything in my power to win and leave it all in the ring.

“I love boxing. It’s been a part of my life for the last ten years and it’s probably been the biggest part apart from my son. It’s everything to me and it’s just starting to pay back now. It’s taken ten years to squeeze a bit of success out of it. Now I’ve got the platform and I’m just here enjoying myself, cashing my cheques and doing my job.”

Fighters tend to get judged by numbers on a screen rather than their performances in the ring and there will be many who are unfamiliar with Walker’s career who look at his 13-2-1 record and immediately put a ceiling on his capabilities. That only tells part of the story though because rather than padding his record, Walker has taken every tough challenge presented to him. 

“Look, I’ve never lost a fight well down on the scorecards,” he said. “I’ve never been knocked down. I’ve never suffered a career ending blow. I’ve had two close losses and a draw when I fought an undefeated fighter in my fifth fight. Those losses have made me the fighter I am today. I’ve learned from them. I don’t see the ‘L’ as a loss. I see it as a Learn. That’s all you can do. I’m not afraid to take any challenges on and I think I’ll win any fight that’s put in front of me. That’s just how I am.”

Last August, that attitude got him a shot at the highly rated and exciting Cyrus Pattinson. Walker was unstoppable and floored the man from Northumberland three times before finally stopping him in the eighth round. 

These days it seems like winning isn’t enough for an underdog. They need to score two pinfalls and a submission before they can move on with their careers and Walker began preparing himself for the inevitable rematch, Just before Christmas, an eye injury ruled Pattinson out of the return but rather than leaving him on ice, Matchroom quickly arranged for Walker to fight unbeaten Celtic champion, Germain.

In some ways, Pattinson withdrawing from the fight allowed Walker to skip a step and he made the most of it. Instead of being cast as the dangerous away fighter, Walker looked, acted and fought like a ‘home’ fighter against Germain and established himself as a serious contender in the British welterweight picture. 

“That was my coming out party,” he said about the first fight with Pattinson. “I think they might have thought it was a fluke and that he’d had a bad night and that I’d had a good night but the same would have happened again. The rematch didn’t go ahead and they gave me the opportunity to fight in Belfast. It was on two weeks notice but I’m always ready and always in the gym. That’s another nail in the coffin to prove I’m not a one trick pony and it wasn’t a fluke. I’m really about it. With the names we have in the hat at the minute, you’re only gonna see a better me.

“I think that whatever you say or feel or however you act day by day, it always comes back. I always see myself as a champion and speak and act as a champion. I don’t like losing. Yeah, I’ve taken chances but every one of those chances I’ve felt like I was going to win. I’m not a gatekeeper. I’m coming to the top and thats that.”

Perseverance pays off and Waker has certainly had a better start to this year than the last couple. 

He spent February 2022 getting over a hard fought decision defeat to Samuel Antwi for the English title. This time last year he was contemplating moving down to the super lightweight division to reinvigorate his career. He eventually got down to 142lbs but was beaten by the talented Kane Gardner. This February, he has a WBA ranking belt and is drawing up a wish list of future opponents. 

British champion Harry Scarff is set to take on Karen Chukhadzhian in a final eliminator for the IBF welterweight title and former European title challenger Liam Taylor is next in line for a crack at the Lonsdale belt but Walker’s recent exploits should make him a fixture at the top of the British welterweight scene for some time to come. 

“I’m right in the mix after those two wins. I’ve done my apprenticeship. I’m in my prime. I’m coming together as a fighter. Me and my coach have got a good relationship inside and outside the ring. We’re ticking the boxes and the building blocks are going in place. I’m a complete fighter now and there’s no-one I wouldn’t back myself against,” he said.

“We’ve got a few names and got a plan. I wouldn’t turn down a fight with anyone in the UK anyone above me, I’ll back myself against them.

“I’m focusing on my next opponent now. I’m looking forward to getting back out there. I had a meeting with my manager and coach on Monday, we set out a gameplan we’d like and obviously that’ll get put forward to the likes of Matchroom and see what they think but we think we’re on the same hymn sheet. I’m in no position to say what will happen but it’s looking tasty for the next year.”