Liam Davies is setting his sights on the top of the featherweight division after making a successful 126lb debut in Nottingham on Saturday night.

Davies’ 12-ound unanimous decision win over Kurt Walker (12-1, 2 KOs) was solid rather than spectacular, but it was exactly the type of performance the former British and European super bantamweight champion needed.

After adding the IBO title to his collection with a second-round demolition of Mexico’s Erik Ayala Robles in March 2024, Davies (17-1, 8 KOs) spoke confidently about challenging then unified IBF and WBA champion, Marlon Tapales, or travelling to Australia to fight the undefeated Sam Goodman. He was even linked to a shot at Japanese pound-for-pound star and 122lb ruler, Naoya Inoue.

In November, a majority decision points defeat to the talented Shabaz Masoud brought that speculation to a grinding halt and also ended Davies’ trophy-laden career at super bantamweight.

The loss may have affected Davies’ standing in the sport, but after deciding to finally make the move to featherweight he would have happily jumped directly back in at the level he was campaigning at 12 months ago and into a fight with European champion Cristobal Lorente.

Choosing to box an ambitious, undefeated Olympian such as Walker was a smarter choice. The comfortable but competitive win allowed him to him lay the ghost of the Masoud defeat, but the whole procedure of making weight and fighting as a featherweight will have been an invaluable, confidence-boosting exercise.

“I didn't pick the fight. I don't really bother, but I wanted a proper challenge. I didn't want to come back to no small fight. I want to get straight back up there,” Davies told The Ring.

“I wasn’t really in a position to ask for much but, from Saturday night, I want something upwards again.”

Davies has admitted that as his rise through the ranks gathered momentum, he began to get too caught up in thinking about future opponents and paydays rather than living in the moment. The 29 year-old has recently spoken about wanting to recapture the mindset he had as a teenager when he fought for sheer enjoyment and trophies.

The British featherweight division is thriving and is home to plenty of potential opponents who could provide him with high profile, meaningful nights but, Davies being Davies, he has already begun scouting his new habitat for opponents who can help him get back into contention for major work titles.

“People will just say, ‘Oh, it's good in Britain but I like the Bruce ‘Shu Shu’ Carrington fight,” he said. “I like the [IBF champion] Angelo Leo fight as well. That sort of fighter suits me to a T.

“Whether that's the winner of the Michael Conlan European title fight [vs Lorente], that's the minimum, or like, say, one of these ‘Shu Shu’ Carringtons or a shot at a world title, because I still have that real belief that I can win a world title in this weight.”