Eggington vs Walker Predictions: Two warriors wage catchweight war

Former European champion Sam Eggington meets ex-British kingpin Conah Walker in an enticing catchweight contest this Saturday, May 2. The Halls at Wolverhampton University will play host to the 12-round non-title fight, as two fighters with big recent upsets on their records go face-to-face. The bout will be broadcast live on DAZN.

Read further for my Eggington vs Walker predictions ahead of this intriguing domestic scrap.

Eggington vs Walker Odds

Eggington walks in as a 3/1 underdog, but he has overcome similar odds in the past to prevail. Walker is marketed at 2/7 while the draw is priced at 14/1. 

Eggington vs Walker Fight Preview

There may not be a title on the line in this one, but there will be plenty of championship class in that ring. 

Eggington has ticked every box short of winning a world title. The 36-9 warrior is a former European, British, Commonwealth and IBO champion. He has knocked out former world champions, title contenders, amateur standouts and highly-touted prospects. Sam was even given a Lifetime Achievement Award by the WBC last November. 

Walker is not short of accomplishments himself. An ex-British and Commonwealth kingpin, Conah did not lose either championship in the ring. Walker can also count an Olympic silver medalist among his scalps. The 30-year-old is in the form of his life.

The fact there is no championship on the line in this fight is a symptom of this exciting battle being signed. Walker last fought at the 147lb welterweight limit while Eggington has campaigned at the 154lb super welterweight limit for a number of years. The two will meet in the middle in order to put this domestic classic on.

Both are brave for accepting this clash. Eggington is coming off an impressive technical decision as an underdog opposite Lee Cutler. The favourite was coming off the back of a Fight of the Year contender in which he beat bitter rival Aaron McKenna. But he could not quite counter the long levers and dogmatic persistence of Eggington, losing on the cards after a cut ended the fight in the ninth round in Birmingham.

Walker, meanwhile, is arguably taking an unnecessary risk. The hometown fighter has stepped out of his comfort zone to make this fight in Wolverhampton. Walker could call his shot after stopping undefeated Olympic silver medalist Pat McCormack in the last round of a rousing bout in Monte Carlo last December. Picking a noted and successful favourite-hunter in Eggington is a bold move.

The fight should thrill, whatever the outcome. A win for Walker should help him stand out in a stacked welterweight pack in this country. Conor Benn and Jack Catterall garner the headlines, but a big display for Conah puts him right in amongst it.

For Eggington, I imagine little will change whether he wins, loses or draws. This is a man who has always sought out the toughest fights. He’s beaten global stars like Paulie Malignaggi, taken the ‘0’ of eight different unbeaten prospects and held almost every honour there is to win. 

Sam’s losses tell as much of a story as the wins. It takes a brave man to fight Liam Smith in Liverpool or Dennis Hogan in Australia. Another away mission won’t faze Eggington. Neither will an in-form foe expected to beat him. Beating men like that is what he does. It is up to Conah Walker to stop him.

Eggington vs Walker Full Card

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Eggington vs Walker Prediction

A year out of the ring isn’t helpful for Eggington. The cuts incurred in the Cutler win obviously needed time to heal, but I’d have hoped to see Sam in a ring at some point over the last 12 months. Walker has boxed twice, stopping Liam Taylor and McCormack since Eggington last laced a professional glove.

It is the longest lay-off of Eggington’s career. A far cry from 2019, when he boxed six times. At the age of 32, the body does demand a little more recuperation time of course. Coupled with the extreme fight situations Eggington has found himself in down the years, perhaps a rest is just the ticket.

I think a full-flow Eggington is a handful for anyone in the domestic division. But I feel like backing him here, I’d be doing so sight unseen. So I’ll go with the man with the momentum and pick Walker on points at 7/5.

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