WFC’s 18th boxing card of 2016 features Walker versus Okine in the Main Event.
BATON ROUGE, LOUISIANA – November 30, 2016 – The Capitol City’s premier boxing promoter, World Fighting Championships, closes out 2016 with a bang, courtesy of Eric “Baby Face Assassin” Walker (13-0, 6KO), who faces Missouri-based Joshua Okine (29-7-1, 17KO) in the main event bout at super welterweight on December 10th at the Belle of Baton Rouge. Walker, who is best known for dethroning Mayweather Promotions standout Chris Pearson. Pearson had passed test after test en route to his rendezvous with Walker, who took his “O” in December of last year. In Walker’s last bout, he defeated Guadalajara’s Josue Obando to win the WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight Title.
Walker’s boxing story is unconventional, reading more like the Wesley Snipes prison boxing movie, Undisputed, than the traditional rags-to-riches Rocky storyline that is so revered by boxing documentarians. Walker was only 15 years old when he went to prison, and spent thirteen years honing his craft as part of the prison boxing team. Five institutions in the area would recruit and train fighters from among the prison populations and compete against each other. It was in this system that the warden of Walker’s institution appointed Walker the captain of the boxing team, and it became his job as he boxed alongside Top Rank boxer Brad Solomonand others. Walker amassed a record of 61-1 within the institution. Upon his release, Walker had five sanctioned “amateur” bouts, though he took it easy with his younger opponents. He knew experience was on his side.
Walker kicked off his professional debut in November, 2011 in a first round knockout in Ohio. He then amassed a record of 11-0, before facing undefeated Pearson in an 8-round bout at super welterweight. Walker won a unanimous decision over the southpaw, and turned the heads of media and fans.
The undercard features some new and some familiar Baton Rouge faces. Manjaro Hills, Jr. (5-0, 0K)), has fought four of his five career fights at the Belle, and at WFC 62, faces Louisiana’s Jay Williams (3-8, 0KO) in a super-welterweight, 6-round bout. Baton Rouge fighter Tasha Burton (4-7, 0KO) steps in with undefeated Sydney LeBlanc (4-0-1, 0KO) in a fight that holds special significance for Burton, who lost her wife just two weeks ago. Rounding out the card, Cade Herod faces Devin Parker in a four round bout at lightweight. Hasan Henderson and Steven Lyons battle it out over four rounds at heavyweight, Tory Williams faces Blake Lacaze in a 4 round light heavyweight bout, and Quincy Lavallais steps into the ring with Bobby Watson in a four round welterweight bout.
WFC Owner and Promoter Matt McGovern expressed excitement at the stacked seven-bout card to end 2016. “What better place to end the year than our second home, the Belle. This year has been incredible for the growth of WFC, and I can’t wait to see what 2017 offers. This is such a solid bout between a true future world champion in Eric Walker, and a very game opponent in Okine.”
Tickets for WFC 62 start at $30 are on sale at worldfightingchampionships.com. Fans are encouraged to buy tickets early, as these events frequently sell out. Doors open at 7:00 p.m.. and first bell is at 8:00 p.m.
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Emily Pandelakis
World Fighting Championships
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