Walker reigns in Spain with a golden display
LISBURN’S Kurt Walker struck bantamweight gold at the EU Championships in Spain yesterday.
Walker, who has his longterm sights on making it to the 2020 Tokyo Olympics, delivered a brilliant performance to defeat England’s Peter McGrail on a 3-2 split decision in Valladolid.
McGrail, the reigning European champion, entered the decider as the favourite but Walker boxed very intelligently from start to finish and deservedly took the verdict with three judges scoring it 29-28 in his favour and the other two having it 29-28 for the Englishman.
McGrail probably edged the opening round with his left hand proving effective, though he did end the session with cut at the side of his right eye.
Walker started to have some eye-catching success in the second round, jolting McGrail with a solid right hand. The Lisburn man was clearly warming to his task as he clipped McGrail crisp, straight blows.
It all came down to the third and Walker produced a clinical three minutes as he slipped his opponent’s blows and responded with spearing shots that essentially gave him the gold, which adds to the silver won at the Commonwealth Games and bronze at the European Championships over the past 18 months.
Meanwhile, cruiserweight Tommy McCarthy got his career back on track with a six-round points victory over Kent Kauppinen at the Shorts Social Club on Saturday night.
Belfast man McCarthy, who won 60-54, was always in control and it was really a case of shaking off 12 months of ring rust as he looks ahead to 2019 when he expects to push towards a British title shot.
“I’m a bit disappointed because I wanted to get the stoppage,” said McCarthy. “That was like my pro debut again. The opponent was active and seasoned so it’s good to get six good competitive rounds and back in to the whole environment again.”
Belfast flyweight Luke Wilton also ignited his career again with a points win over Georgi Geogiev, dropping the journeyman in the second with a body shot.