Conah Walker is the ‘True Grit’ champion

Conah Walker…first defence of his Lonsdale Belt on Saturday

IN an era of champions draped in bling, dressed to the nines in designer clothing and speaking on topics and in a terminology far removed from the common man, Conah Walker has emerged as a blue collar torchbearer.

The Wolverhampton warrior’s style and struggles mirror the qualities needed to succeed in working class Britain during hard times.

That’s why the 30-year-old has such a huge following. He’s inspired fight followers: Walker’s done it, they can do it.

He didn’t turn pro with the cushion of an outstanding amateur career. He has had to take hard fights. Yet he has, through Black Country bulldog spirit, become British welterweight champion. Walker is boxing’s True Grit.

He makes the first defence of that title – won so memorably in January with a come-from-behind 11th round stoppage of Harry Scarff – on Saturday’s huge Matchroom show at BP Pulse Live Arena, Resorts World, Birmingham.

The Second City’s Olympic gold medallist Galal Yafai tops the bill with a WBC interim world title defence against Mexican Francisco Rodriguez Jnr.

But the noise will be generated by Walker’s faithful. Attempting to prevent him putting a second notch on the Lonsdale Belt he has grafted so hard to gain is Liam Taylor, a fighter from Middleton, Lancashire, who, at 34, may have seen better days.

Taylor had to settle for a technical draw in a 2019 bid to take the title. He was also overpowered in two rounds by world class Russian David Avanesyan in an attempt to life the European title proper, although he did go on take the lesser WBO version.

Taylor hits hard, has a big edge in experience with 31 bouts and is no slouch.

Walker, who has won 15 of 19 (one draw), won’t care what he brings to the table. Walker could be pitted against Godzilla and still come out snarling.

It’s been a hard, perilous slog to reach the top of the mountain. He’ll be in no mood to tumble  so soon after claiming the summit.

Walker possesses an old school “never say die” attitude.

He told Boxing News: “In life – as well as boxing – you can’t just stop at the first hurdle. If you lose your job, for example, then you’ve got to find another one.

“You keep going until you find what you’re looking for – and that’s how I live my life. I always believed that the right hand was coming against Scarff.

“The day you stop believing is the day you give up – not just in boxing, but in life.”

Walker has never stopped believing, he’s certainly never given up. His record illustrates that.

No one gave him a prayer against KO artist Cyrus Pattinson, considered the next big thing. Afterall, he’d been beaten by Kane Gardner and Samuel Antwi, the experts argued.

Walker ignored them and crashed the welterweight scene by mauling Pattinson in eight. He spat out previously unbeaten Lloyd Germain in three, looked dreadfully unlucky to drop a decision to Belfast banger Lewis Crocker, then uncorked the dramatic one punch finisher against Scarff.

Collectively, those four fights are the stuff of Rocky Movies.

Fans should brace themselves for Rocky V on Saturday.