CHRIS WALKER, 1951-2018
Remembering the ex-british super-lightweight title challenger
CHRIS WALKER, an early student of Brendan Ingle and former challenger for the British superlightweight title, has died at 66.
Walker, originally from Nottingham, was found in his Sheffield home at the weekend by his son, Danny, and the cause of death at the time of going to press remains unknown.
He turned pro in March 1976, but lost in a 1978 bid for the British belt when Colin Powers halted him in seven. Walker, a big underdog, displayed great heart during the defeat, even threatening to cause the upset on occasion.
“That was the first professional show I went to,” Glyn Rhodes, esteemed trainer and former stablemate of Walker, told Boxing News. “Chris were a lovely bloke and I remember walking in the gym and he and Mick Mills were there.
“I always looked up to Chris and Mick. When you are 16 there is always someone you look up to in the gym. For me, that was Chris.”
After the loss to Powers, Walker was outscored by future champ Clinton Mckenzie, and he retired in 1979, with a record of 15-11-1 (5), after defeats to Chris Sanigar and George Feeney.
In retirement, Walker was a landlord and considered to be in good health in recent years. An autopsy is set to be carried out.