LEXIE Walker – the Black Country’s very own Million Dollar Baby – is a special talent. Everyone involved in amateur boxing agrees with that.
How special was underlined by her dominance in the major, global Golden Girl tournament, staged in Boras, Sweden, last weekend.
It’s the second time she’s struck gold at the prestigious boxcup – and this year she was named “best boxer”.
Lexie, who lives in Penkridge and fights out of Wolverhampton Boxing Club, simply swept aside world class opposition in the under 60kg category. She didn’t drop a round.
France’s number on Shayna Huvelin was outpointed in the opening bout, Ireland’s former European champ Elma Barry was stopped in the first, Norwegian international Vilde Nostdal was outscored in the final.
Wolverhampton coach Andy Owen, who travelled to Sweden with the fighting phenomenon, said: “Lexie performed incredibly and was rightly named under-19 boxer of the tournament. She is just getting better and better all the time.”
Lexie, who turns 18 next week, told me: “I think in two of the bouts I didn’t box my best, but I didn’t lose a round. I got the job done and gave nothing away. I went for it, used my head and my feet.”
The girl’s CV backs predictions Wolverhampton is witnessing a star emerge. In 35 contests, she’s collected four national titles, one European gold, two GB golds.
When she says “this year I want to win my first amateur world title”, it’s no pipedream. Wolverhampton gym boss Richard Carter – not known for brash predictions – even told me with a wink: “This one’s taking us to Vegas.”
Lexie, who names Canelo Alvarez as her ring idol, said: “The 2028 Olympics (in Los Angeles) is definitely a goal for me, but I’m not rushing myself. Win gold at the Olympics, turn pro, win a world title – that’s the plan.
“If it doesn’t happen, I still intend to turn pro in the next two or three years.”
Lexi, whose dad Richard is Wolves football club’s under 18s coach, told me a year ago: “I want to be the best female fighter the world has ever seen.”
That’s some ambition, but worth asking bookies what odds they’d give on it happening.
