Boxing

David Walker to fight Roman Karmazin

By Elliott Worsell

02.08 - From Southern Area champion to European Title Challenger, David Walker has been handed a prestigious shot at Russian, Roman Karmazin’s illustrious European Crown in October, courtesy of Walker’s trusted and respected promoter Mick Hennessy.

Never in Walker’s wildest dream did he think a chance like this would come his way during the barnstormer of a fight he had with Spencer Fearon. Walker was given a hell of a fight by a guy possessing a modest 11-4 slate going into the fight, and was floored twice and hurt on numerous occasions by the plucky challenger. Now, Walker faces a potential David and Goliath scenario, when he steps into a British ring to try and wrestle the vaunted European title from respected, 30 year old Roman ‘Made In Hell’ Karmazin who possesses a daunting 31-1-1 (20 KO’s) ledger and is not just a step up from Walker’s previous competition, but a ladder up.

Karmazin, infamously was the ‘third party’ in the long drawn out negotiations for the big Oscar De La Hoya – Fernando Vargas superfight. Roman was the WBC number 1 ranked contender, and was all set and ready to go for his shot at De La Hoya on December 8 2001, until the enigmatic multi weight champ pulled out of the fight with an injured hand. This was a kick in the teeth for the then Sports Network promoted Karmazin, as De La Hoya had been on his radar for many a year. Rather than facing the brilliant De La Hoya for the WBC title though, Karmazin was given the far less discouraging task of fighting world rated Spaniard Javier Castillejo for the coveted green strap in July 2002.

Like so many of Roman’s fights, the contest was fought in the other guys backyard. Castillejo, with full support from his native Spaniards eeked out a close and somewhat controversial decision over Karmazin, which brought Roman’s world title ambitions to a grinding halt. The illustrious former European Light Middleweight champion was in limbo, failing at the elite level, but pushing the appreciated Castillejo all the way, Karmazin had no other option but to start again on the European route, that he had been so successful on previously.

Formerly, before he landed his prized WBC shot, southpaw Karmazin, who has been punching for pay since 1996, welcomed the European Light Middleweight title to his resume with a 3rd round knockout of Turk Orhan Delibas in Germany. With only one blip on his record before that – a draw with well rated Javier Martinez in his first fight overseas – Karmazin had finally achieved his ambition of being proclaimed the best at his weight in Europe.

He followed up his convincing win for the belt, with comfortable points wins over well regarded ‘opponents’ Mike Algoet (pts over 8), Viktor Fessetchko (pts over 6) and Sergey Tatevosyan (pts over 8), however, the bald champion disappointingly never achieved one defence of his European belt during that particular reign.

Instead, he relinquished the European title and set about achieving his dream of a world title. Ranked as number 1 contender with the respected WBC organisation, Karmazin bided his time and waited to show off his slick, southpaw skills and punching power to the world.

Standing at nearly 6 foot, and boasting twenty knockout victories on his accomplished resume, many well-respected ‘faces’ were clocking Karmazin’s progress with keen interest. He was making big noises at European level, and many believed this success would seamlessly transfer onto the world scene. It never materialised, and as previously mentioned, ‘Made In Hell’ was put through hell en route to a close and competitive points loss to Javier Castillejo in the Spaniard’s home town.

Since that fight, Karmazin has had two more contests, and pleasing for him, both of them at his much loved European level. His first, a shot at the vacant title he had previously held against Jorge Araujo, an unbeaten and untested Spanish prospect, resulted in Karmazin retaining his old title via a 5th round knockout. No hangover was suffered from the Castillejo defeat, and better still he had mastered his demons by visiting Spain again to knock out the young prospect Araujo.

Karmazin has so many air miles to his name; it is hard to put your finger on just where the guy will fight next. Whether it is his native Russia, Estonia, Spain, Belgium, Germany, USA or England, Karmazin has been there and got the t-shirt. He has proved time and time again that going into the opponents backyard does not phase him in the slightest, a true road warrior if there ever was one.

He added the name of Aalborg, Denmark to his list of countries conquered on 13 June 2003, in his last fight, when he dramatically and impressively knocked out the very capable Michael Rask in two punishing rounds, for his first ever European Title defence. Rask, in front of home support was seen as a very solid contender who had a great shot at beating Karmazin, the fight was expected to be long, tough and gruelling. Quite the opposite, Rask couldn’t handle Karmazin’s stand-up southpaw skills and was picked off continuously by the champions impressive jab, until Karmazin pulled the curtain down on the show in the 2nd round.

Arguably the standout victory amongst Karmazin’s 31 so far, it went to prove that there had been absolutely no aftershock suffered from Karmazin’s world title challenge.

Karmazin was back to his best, and has set about clearing up the European scene and disposing of all challenges to his desired and much loved European throne.

The next challenge for Karmazin comes in the form of 27 year old former ABA amateur champion, Southern Area Welterweight champion and current Southern Area Light Middleweight Champion David Walker 19-1-1 (9 KO’s), arguably one of the most exciting fighters in Britain at present. Walker, has an engaging style, a real fans fighter, he places his head on his opponent’s chest and wields away with heavy two-handed shots, with the ferocity of a freight train. Known for the huge volume of punches he throws and the brutally exciting fights he has participated in, Walker will have to rise to the challenge against Karmazin and show he isn’t out of his depth.

Because make no doubt about it, Karmazin will start as a huge favourite to win this fight. He is experienced, has proven his talent at top European level and has come up short by virtue of a very close points decision at world level. Walker, is a baby in world terms, having only captured the well regarded Southern Area titles and never even challenged for the British or Commonwealth titles, which are conventionally seen as the ‘next in line’ when following the good old traditional route to world honours.

Like a ‘bright spark’ at school, Walker has skipped several years out and is moving right on to college. Packed with him, a dynamite of a right hand, and guts, courage and sheer determination that would make any comic book superhero bow down in admiration, Walker must rise to the occasion. A chance like this does not come along very often, and for Walker to go from Southern Area level fights to a huge European title fight is a true mark of both Walker’s burning ambition and also that of promoter Mick Hennessey, who is determined to make his stable of fighters the most promising in the British Isles.

‘Kid Dynamite’ is exactly what Walker is. He is a short fuse, a ticking time bomb of a fighter, who could explode and unravel at any minute. Having witnessed his domestic wars with Paul Dyer, Jimmy Vincent, John Humphrey and most recently his four round destruction of Spencer Fearon, it is plain to see Walker relishes getting into tear ups, he thrives on them. Look up ‘exciting’ in the dictionary, and you’ll find David ‘Kid Dynamite’ Walker underneath it, the guy simply doesn’t know what an easy day at the office is.

With only 20 odd fights under his belt, you could already shift several thousands of copies of ‘Walker Highlights’ on DVD, if you’re a fan of good old fashioned fighting, you’re a fan of David Walker. A dull fight is as appealing as a defeat, or dinner at Jimmy Vincent’s for David Walker. Walker aims to please his growing fan base every time he steps through the ropes and he should be praised a great deal for the rounds of pleasure he has given BBC television viewers since he first started trading leather and black eyes for them and promoter Hennessy.

A fighter like Walker, however, being so erratic and wild in form, could come apart at any time. Whether it is against a beatable domestic journeyman or a top ten-ranked, world-class operator, you just never know what Walker will do, that’s the great appeal many fight fans see in him. Therefore, you have to say that Walker – Karmazin is nothing short of a masterstroke pulled on promoter Mick Hennessy’s part.

What is David Walker going to achieve by keep getting into thrilling wars at domestic, southern area level? He’ll win fans for sure, but will he achieve success at a more exalted level? Will the blood, guts and huge bombs exchanged in his fights begin to take their toll on him down the line, when he finally does ‘step up’? It makes a lot more sense to throw David in at the deep end early, take away the floats and rubber armbands and see if he floats or sinks. It’s better to sink at the deep end than at the shallow end. And this is what could happen if Walker continues to engage in World War 3 every time he steps into the ring with low-level domestic opponents.

Walker is a proud man, with courage to burn. He’s been an underdog many times before, most notably against the tall, rangy John Humphrey who he demolished in two pulsating rounds in Dagenham for the Southern Area title he wears with pride. The underdog tag will not deter Walker in the slightest; he will revel in his role as ‘Rocky Balboa’ to Karmazin’s ‘Apollo Creed’.

The fight has been tentatively scheduled for the first week in October, possibly in London, and this will mean the Walker fans will be out in force urging their man onto the very end. With home support, and the support of millions on BBC television, Walker could not be given a better platform to base his enormous task on.

Karmazin needs to be respected. He is a very talented operator and a southpaw to boot. The home crowd will not bother Roman in the slightest; he’s been there and done it all before. He’s the old head in this fight, teaching his young charge and young pretender the ropes up at European level. Like many others, Karmazin will be thinking Walker is out of his depth at this exalted level; surely Walker can’t jump straight up to European level without even touching the British and Commonwealth oceans…

This is boxing, and anything can happen. The Sorcerer could come undone against the Apprentice, just as easily as he could take the young pug to school. Maybe Walker will come unstuck and freeze on his big occasion, but maybe he will fight the fight of his life and rise to the level and occasion that a win against Karmazin will require. Even when faced with setbacks, Walker has proven in the past that he can overcome them and come out the other side a better fighter, just ask Forest Hill’s Spencer Fearon.
David Walker will be hoping he can silence the critics and dish out the same sort of medicine John Humphrey and Spencer Fearon have been tasting recently at Light Middleweight, much to their obvious displeasure.

Karmazin on the other hand, is far superior to the Fearon’s and Humphrey’s of the world, and has proven time and time again at European level just what a quality operator he is. The Russian fights under the battle slogan ‘Made in Hell, and the twenty opponents who have never heard the final bell against him will know exactly what that means.

One thing that is a certainty is that British fight fans are in for a very exciting battle between two completely contrasting characters that both possess their own distinct style and have differing levels of experience and competition.

It’s well documented, Britain as a nation loves an underdog. And when Walker – Karmazin kicks off, we will certainly have one, but can you ask for a better, more gutsy and courageous underdog than David ‘Kid Dynamite’ Walker? I don’t think so.

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