Reputations mean little to Conah Walker.

On December 6, the 30-year-old will travel to Monte Carlo on the French Riviera for the second defence of his British welterweight title against Pat McCormack.

Victory will edge him closer to a shot at a 147-pound world title belt, seizing McCormack's No. 4 rating with the WBA in the process.

Walker (16-3-1, 7 KOs) was never supposed to reach this level. The 30-year-old from Wolverhampton has had to battle and scrap his way up from the ground floor. McCormack (8-0, 6 KOs) has been groomed for moments like this since winning a silver medal at the delayed 2020 Olympic Games.

"Look, he can be who he wants: an Olympic silver medallist, be Muhammad 'I’m hard Bruce Lee'. It doesn't matter,” Walker told The Ring.

"I know how good he is, a very good fighter but got to be good for the 12 rounds whereas I've only got to be good for 15 seconds and once I land on him, it’s just going to be a barrage."

Although undoubtedly gifted, McCormack is also 30 and has boxed just eight times with 45 rounds' experience since turning professional in March 2023. Over that same period, Walker has established himself as one of the most improved, entertaining fighters in British boxing.

He has beaten prospects like Cyrus Pattinson as well as veterans like Lewis Ritson and Liam Taylor.

In January, he tore the British and Commonwealth titles from a respected, solid champion in Harry Scarff while pushing current IBF world champion Lewis Crocker to the very brink during a brutal 10-round war seven months earlier.

Walker's heart and grit have never been in question but the past three years have also taught him exactly what he is capable of technically. He believes he's answered questions that McCormack hasn't yet been posed.

"He's still got to prove it to himself. He's a great fighter, don't get me wrong. He's very talented, but yet to prove what I've proved to myself and everyone who watches me," he said.

"People know what to expect when I come out and play ball. I know what I've got in the locker - he's yet to find that out. I wish him all the best but I'm not going to leave that ring without the W."

Even during an up and down start to his professional career, Walker was an upbeat character with an unshakeable belief that he would eventually be successful. Now that his efforts are finally being rewarded, that self-confidence has turned into a genuine confidence he's destined for the very top.

Walker has targeted a step into world class in 2026 and doesn't see any way that McCormack can derail those plans.

"I believe it's going to be a one-sided beatdown on my behalf," he continued.

"He hasn’t been challenged, hasn't ticked the boxes that I've ticked. He beat a past-his-best Robbie Davies - who shouldn't have been in the ring - and a 40-year-old Mexican [Miguel Parra, whom McCormack stopped in September, is actually 32]. There’s nothing there, I've been ringside for his fights and wasn't impressed.

"He hasn't got the power to hold me off. The ring IQ, he hasn't developed as a professional fighter yet. He's still got amateur traits, bad habits and I'm going to exploit them."