Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor Predictions: British welterweight title the prize for a belting battle

British welterweight champion Conah Walker defends his title against Middleton’s Liam Taylor this Saturday, June 21. The bout takes place at the BP Pulse Arena in Birmingham on the undercard of Galal Yafai vs Francisco Rodriguez Jr. The event, which will air live on DAZN, also features a quality super bantamweight clash pitting Peter McGrail against Romanian hard-nut Ionut Baluta.

Here are my Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor predictions ahead of this battle for the Lord Lonsdale Challenge belt.

Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor Odds

Walker is a 2/5 favourite for this one, in contrast to his underdog status in his title-winning effort. Taylor takes that role this time at 13/2. The draw is available at 16/1.

Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor Fight Preview

Nobody can criticise new British kingpin Walker for his level of activity. After three outings last year, the Wolverhampton man makes the short trip to Birmingham for his second fight of 2025.

The first was a roaring success. Walker was the underdog against Harry Scarff when they squared off for the latter’s British and Commonwealth straps in January. But Conah overcame ‘Horrible’ Harry with an 11th-round TKO against the run of play. 

I picked Scarff to use his size and reach to punch-pick his way to a decision. It had played out exactly as predicted for the first 10 sessions, until Walker took matters into his own gloved hands. An overhand right had the champion on the deck. He rose somehow, but Walker smelled blood. The referee rightfully stopped the savagery and Britain and the Commonwealth had a new welterweight ruler.

Walker has since vacated the latter strap, but that lavish British belt will be on the line this Saturday. Taylor will challenge for that championship for the second time in his 31-fight career. Taylor has taken hard knocks all over this fair isle and the only loss on his record that has gone without vengeance came at the hands of a former world champion.

That second-round knockout defeat was inflicted by ex-WBA welterweight champion David Avanesyan in 2021. Considering the Russian had beaten Shane Mosley and Josh Kelly going in, and would go on to secure world title shots against Terence Crawford and Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis, there was no shame in that reverse.

Taylor’s only other defeat came in 2015, a loss on points to ex-British champ Tyrone Nurse, who has fought a laundry list of the domestic elite. In the rematch, Taylor joined Jack Catterall and Ekow Essuman among those who have beaten the Yorkshireman, doing so via split decision.

Taylor’s previous shot at the British championship ended in frustration. In a fight with then-champion Chris Jenkins, whose Commonwealth title was also up for grabs, a cut to the latter resulting from an accidental head clash halted the bout during round four. If the session had been completed, Taylor would have won the titles via technical decision. The challenger had decked Jenkins in round two and the evaporation of his opportunity, and the lack of a rematch, still sting.

Taylor gets what may amount to his last chance at the title at the age of 34. Late-starter Walker is four years younger but feels far fresher. When Conah turned professional in 2018, Liam was already 19-1 in the paid ranks. They are close in age, but there is a chasm of experience.

However, Walker has one experience to which Taylor cannot relate. Namely, holding that iconic British championship. The challenger will lay it all on the line to try and change that, but Walker earned this accolade the hard way. If anyone is going to take it from him, they will have to walk a similar path.

Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor Full Card

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Conah Walker vs Liam Taylor Prediction

Taylor has the power here, but only just. 14 knockouts from 28 victories makes for a 50% knockout ratio, compared to 40% for Walker (six finishes in 15 victories). I think we are boarding for a long-haul fight here.

Walker is compact, patient and measured. The Wolverhampton man often fights his opponent’s fight. If you sit off him, he will stalk at mid-range. If you engage him, he will return fire. I think we are in for the latter. Taylor goes looking for it, despite boxing from distance suiting his long limbs better.

This could be tight. Taylor has won his last five, every outing since the Avanesyan defeat. The challenger is not coming to lose. Walker will have hefty West Midlands support from neighbouring Wolverhampton and is making the first defence of a belt many felt he couldn’t win. Each combatant has their motivations.

I think Walker sneaks it, perhaps with a few rounds open to interpretation and the inevitable calls for a rematch. I’ll take the champion to win on points at 11/4.

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