Lexie beats the Euro champ in Portugal
Lexie Walker…two round stoppage in sweltering heat of Portimao
LEXIE Walker has a goal – her self-belief makes it more than a dream.
“I want to become the greatest female boxer of all time,” the Penkridge teenager told me.
A lofty ambition, but such is Walker’s dominance at home and abroad, it’s worth placing a bet on it.
Wolverhampton Boxing Club’s Million Dollar Baby underlined her ability on Sunday in the 34 degree heat – that’s 93 in old money – of Portimao, Portugal.
She destroyed reigning European under 60kg youth champ Karolina Kollarova in two rounds to win the Portimao Box Cup. The tall Slovakian was broken by body shots and took three standing counts before the fight was stopped.
That’s Walker second victory over a European champ in 12 months – she’d previously beaten the u65 titleholder.
Quite simply, there’s no stopping the 18-year-old.
“I had a slow start, took a few minutes to get into it,” Lexie said. “The body shots set-up the stoppage. She had a typical amateur style, plenty of movement and a long jab. I could see why she’s achieved what she has.
“I broke her range and went on double phase attacks.”
Coach Andy Owen, in her corner, said: “I don’t think she (Kollarova) had been in with someone as strong and as relentless as Lexie. By the end of the first we noticed she was starting to tire, and I told Lexie to fire shots downstairs at the body. The body shots broke her down.”
Walker is a force of nature who has rampaged through top competitions. In her 37 bout career – just five losses – she’s collected national titles, European titles and boxed for Great Britain.
Next week, she represents England in the Four Nations tournament, staged in Glasgow. After that – if selected – July’s European championships beckon.
Not surprisingly, no one on the domestic scene is in a rush to face Walker on a club show.
“It’s difficult to get fights,” she admitted. “The only way I can get them is going abroad. To get to the Olympics would be an amazing accomplishment, but my aim is to turn professional in a couple of years and be a multiple weight undisputed world champion.”
Lexie is benefitting from being part of a Wolverhampton gym that’s buzzing. On the pro front, Ollie Cooper won the English super-middleweight title last weekend, Gully Powar drew for the British featherweight belt. She spars with Midlands featherweight title challenger Lewis Morris.
“It’s great to share a gym with people who have the same ambitions, the same drive,” Lexie added.”
Former pro Andy Owen said: “Lexie can achieve everything she wants to achieve. She has amazing power and focus, I have never seen a girl hit the body the way she hits the body.”