Although it happened on one of the first major fight cards of the year, Conah Walker’s dramatic late victory over Harry Scarff in January may end up being the comeback victory of 2025.

Well behind on the judges scorecards as a one sided fight entered the 11th round, Walker found a stunning right hand and seized his moment, punching away until the referee jumped in to stop the action.

The win earned Walker the British and Commonwealth welterweight titles.

Throughout his post fight celebrations, Walker (15-3-1, 6 KOs) never allowed the excitement of achieving his lifetime ambition to cloud his memory of the difficult 10 rounds he spent trying to make an impression on the slippery, skilful Scarff.

Rather than resting on his laurels, Walker decided to take himself out of his comfort zone. Three months after beating Scarff, the 30 year-old from Wolverhampton announced that he had parted ways with his trainer, Richie Ghent, and then made the move to Jamie Moore’s gym in Walkden on the outskirts of Manchester.

Walker didn’t take the decision lightly, but it was one he felt he needed to make if he is to achieve his full potential.

On Saturday, Walker makes the first defence of his British title - and his first appearance under Moore - against Liam Taylor (28-2-1, 14 KOs). DAZN will stream the Matchroom event worldwide from Birmingham’s bp pulse LIVE Arena.

“They’re a good bunch of lads and they all make me feel at home. Yeah, so we have a laugh and obviously the coaching is second to none. The experience is there and I'm just thriving on it,” Walker told The Ring about his move to Moore’s gym.

“I think it's just polishing, because at this stage of my career there's not much more that you can teach someone.

“I've fought every style that's out there and I've had a few different trainers now. You pick a little bit from everyone but I think what's good about Jamie and Nigel is that they strip it back and the basics is what they focus on. That's what wins fights.”

Moving gyms is always a gamble. No matter how well a fighter thinks they will click with their new coaches, there is no way of knowing until they have spent a few weeks working with them.

Fortunately, Walker has taken to his new surroundings.

“It was like a lightbulb moment when we started,” he said. “We’ve had a good, solid six to eight weeks getting the rhythms and the timings of the pads and understanding how things work and then a good eight weeks [training for the fight]. We're going to be ticking every box by the time we get to the fight night.

“Everything that Nigel and Jamie are telling me, I'm executing in sparring to a T.”

Walker is an old-fashioned fighter in attitude as well as style. He has always been willing to face anyone at 147lbs if it would advance his cause and that isn’t going to change now. Rather than asking for a gimme to get used to his new team, he thought nothing of ploughing straight ahead and into a mandatory defence of his newly won title against Manchester’s Taylor.

Taylor was unlucky not to win the British title back in 2019 but has been inactive. In all likelihood, this will be the 34 year-old's last shot at the belt but the two have sparred in the past and Walker is preparing for a hard night’s work.

“Listen, I'm not bringing any of that into my game,” he said. “I'm just getting myself ready for another tough fight because anyone who fights for a British title, they're coming for it. He's had a bit of bad luck but all I'm looking at is that he's a well-experienced operator.

“He's had a run out against Jamie [Stewart] in March so he's dusted the cobwebs off and he's going to be coming in in the best shape of his life. I know how hard I trained to fight for the British title. It's the most prestigious belt in boxing other than a world title in my opinion and in most people's opinion who are from the UK so I'm expecting the best Liam Taylor. I'm just going to match him for everything he brings.”

These days, the British title is too often seen as a stepping stone to bigger things or a belt that can be easily leapfrogged if another avenue opens. Too many British fighters reach fringe world level without being battle hardened by the experience of fighting ambitious, accomplished domestic operators and are found wanting.

Walker set his heart of winning the belt when he was a youngster and has walked a hard road to achieve his dream. If he is successful this weekend, he will allow himself to set some even bigger targets.

“It’s amazing,” he said of being recognised as the British champion. “It’s what I've always dreamt of.

“You enjoy the buzz after the fight week and whatever but then it just becomes, 'What’s next?'

“I've always said that winning the British title, that's my end goal. I’ve won it now. There's only one way to go and that's chasing world titles but I've got Liam Taylor in my way and I've got to deal with him and then we’ll talk about anything else on the horizon.

“I've took myself out of my comfort zone, I've moved trainers, I'm living away and I'm training hard. I’m just focused on the next task. My life's always about the next task. I never try and stay still and enjoy the jewels of the trade. It's always, 'What’s next? What's next?'

“You can enjoy that week, but then it's on to the next.”