Walsall’s James Beech jr showed true heart and determination as he took on the unbeaten hot prospect Kurt Walker as the Ulster Hall Belfast (30.3.24). The show was the headline of the Colon Promotions show and was streamed live on DAZN and was for the Featherweight WBA continental European title. Twenty-six-year-old Beech jr came into the contest with a record of sixteen wins out of Twenty-one contests with his opponent Walker (29) winning all ten of his contests. Beech jr weighed in 8 stone 9 with Walker coming in the same in this ten-round contest with John Latham reffing.
Beech jr started the first round fast putting it straight on Walker, as the round went on Walker found his distance landing nice combinations, close round but Walker won it. Beech jr came out strong again in the second trying to press Walker back, Walker boxed well on the back foot landing some nice back hands as Beech jr looked to get on the inside. Beech jr continued with his game plan of pressing Walker in the third who was moving well and picking nice shots on the back foot, Beech Jr sustained a cut above his left eye in this round as he continued to press until the end of the round. Beech jr showed so much heart and determination in the fourth as he pressed forward going to the body with good shots, Walker fought well on the back foot landing the more eye-catching combinations and winning the round.
Beech jr kept up his high-pressure pace in the fifth but Walker was now showing great class and skill as he teed off several times winning the round. Walker continued to show great movement and shot-picking in the sixth as Beech jr continued to press forward, Beech Jr landed some good shots but it was Walker’s round. All heart from Beech jr in the seventh as he landed some nice hats at the start, Walker had Beech jr on the Bach foot for the first time landing some heavy shots with Beech jr riding the storm and seeing the round out.
James Beech jr’s Corner Pulled him out at the end of the round.
Dexter’s Thoughts
This was a hard night for Beech jr who was always going to be up against it traveling to Belfast Northern Ireland to take on their Featherweight hot prospect. Walker came in unbeaten in pro ten contests and had a great amateur career getting to the quarter-finals of the 2020 Tokyo Olympics and in his last contest as an amateur, he got to the quarter-finals of the Irish national championships. Beech jr who has only lost when he has fought for titles or top-level contests showed loads of heart and determination but Walker just showed his class in front of the home fans. James Beech Jr. has always been one of my favorite fighters from the Midlands and I have championed his corner from his first fight back in February of 2017 at Tudor Grange Leisure Centre Solihull, but tonight he was just outclassed by a fighter who can devote himself to the noble art. Beech jr has to fit his training in between working as a painter and decorator which a lot of pro boxers have to do. Beech jr has yet to achieve the heights that I and a lot of other people think he can achieve but he is only twenty-six and I think that he can still challenge at the British and European level when he wins one of these titles who knows he could still challenge for world honors.
I look forward to seeing James Beech jr back in the ring very soon.