Walker (18-3-1, 9 KOs) has made his name at 147 pounds but stepped up to a 153-pound catchweight for his headline fight against Eggington.

The naturally bigger Eggington got off to a strong start and seemed on course for an upset victory before Walker's relentless pressure and a well-timed eighth round body attack changed the tide. The resistance and snap started to ebb away from the Birmingham veteran and Walker brought matters to a dramatic conclusion in the 10th round.

Last year, Walker recovered to stop Harry Scarff in the 11th round, winning the British title before punctuating an oustanding year by knocking out 2020 Olympic silver medalist Pat McCormack in the 12th round in Monte-Carlo.

The 30-year-old is starting to make the extraordinary feel ordinary.

"I made it hard for myself again. I know I did. The game plan wasn't to stand and fight with him because he's a big fella," Walker told DAZN after the fight.

"I've stepped up a weight and listen, there's no secret, it was probably was one step too far. I won't go back to 154 because they're all bigger but this was a fantasy fight.

"I wanted to challenge myself. There was no one else in the Midlands to fight in somewhere like this. He's a great dance partner and it took longer than we expected but it was another great fight, possibly fight of the year."

"We'll go back down to 147 and we'll let Eddie decide what's next."

Walker did call for a fight with his former Matchroom stablemate Conor Benn immediately afterwards.

Walker's promoter Eddie Hearn later admitted that he doesn't see any way that Benn takes the bait and agrees to a dangerous, violent showdown with Walker when there are far more lucrative options available.

Nonetheless, he is determined to secure the Wolverhampton man a major opportunity.

For a brief period of time before agreeing the Eggington fight, Walker believed that he had secured a rematch with the last man to beat him; current IBF welterweight champion Lewis Crocker.

In June 2024, Walker and Crocker went to war in Birmingham. After 10 exciting rounds, Crocker was awarded a unanimous decision before shocking Paddy Donovan to win the vacant IBF title the following September.

Walker has won five fights in exciting style since and Hearn wants to reward his efforts.

"For me, he's done more than enough now to fight for the world title," Hearn said.

"We agreed the fight with Crocker for the world title. He has to fight the mandatory against Liam Paro.

"That fight's in June. If Crocker wins against Paro, we'll be doing everything we can to make Lewis Crocker-Conah Walker for the world title."