Exclusive: British Welterweight Champion Conah Walker Shows Boxing’s Power from Prison to the Top

Conah Walker, the reigning British welterweight champion, is urging the country’s leaders to recognise the power of boxing to transform troubled communities after retracing his own personal journey from prison to the pinnacle of domestic sport.

From Wolverhampton, the 30-year-old famously spent time in a youth detention centre as a youngster as his life threatened to spiral out of control.

But after becoming a professional fighter, Walker is now an example to others both inside and outside of the ring having not only learnt trade but also wrestling the Lonsdale belt away from Harry Scarff following a dramatic victory over his fellow Midlander five months ago.

Describing why politicians should ensure grassroots gyms benefit from proper funding and state support, Walker exclusively told SportsBoom that encouraging more kids to don the gloves would have a greater effect upon antisocial behaviour than a thousand government campaigns or police operations.

“Boxing is a sport that appeals to kids with a lot of pent up anger,” he said. 

“Nine times out of 10, they’ve got that anger because they’re frustrated either because of something that’s going on in their own lives or what they think are a lack of opportunities out there in the world."

“In the gym, you get teaching from your coaches. You don’t just teach how to box. You get taught life skills too and the coaches in the gyms become father figures to you."

“That’s why I’m a massive advocate of getting the kids of today into gyms. Get them in there rather than running around on the streets."

“Trust me, you quickly learn how to behave in a boxing gym. People are in there to work and make themselves better, so they won’t take any nonsense. Boxing shapes you and it guides you.”

PAIN GAME

Describing why boxing can reach parts of society other sports or pastimes can’t, Walker added: “The strange thing is, when you realise you have the capability to do someone else damage, you don’t actually want to inflict that damage anymore."

"You don’t want to fight, outside of a proper environment anyway, because you already know you can hurt people."

“Boxing automatically gives you discipline. Not only when you are in the gym but when you are outside of it as well."

“I genuinely don’t think a lot of people understand what a force for good boxing can be. How it teaches you respect for others, respect for yourself and everyone else around you.”

Promoter Eddie Hearn, whose company Matchroom are promoting Walker’s first defence of the title he snatched from Scarff in Nottingham, has also publicly called for the government to use boxing as a tool to combat the knife crime epidemic. 

Walker completed his redemption in memorable fashion, stopping Scarff with a thunderous right hand in the 11th round of a contest his Derby based opponent had dominated until then. Liam Taylor, who meets Walker at Birmingham’s Resorts World Arena on Saturday night, secured his shot at the crown by defeating Jamie Stewart in January. 

“Boxing changed my life,” said Walker. 

"I wasn’t a bad kid. I was a misunderstood kid, a bit daft and a bit lost maybe."

“I ended up doing things I shouldn’t have been doing, got slung out of every school I went to and then ended up doing two years in a youth detention unit."

“I wish I’d found boxing sooner because, even though going away was a massive wake up call, that’s what has given me a real purpose."

“In the gym, you get new lessons daily. So you keep on having to prove yourself. You are never going to be the best boxer in the world because there is always something to learn and get better at. I think that’s a good lesson for life in general as well.”