Four-time world champion Stephen Wakeling (36-4, 14 KO’s) of Kent, England will square off with fast-rising KO artist Eddie ‘Showtime’ Walker (11-2-1, 9 KOs) of Atlanta, Ga. in a middleweight (85 kilograms/187 pounds) contest at the star-studded GLORY 5 London kickboxing event at ExCel Arena in London, England on Saturday, March 23, Glory Sports International announced today.
The 29-year-old Wakeling, renowned for his excellent conditioning and tendency to inflict heavy punishment on opponents, has faced and defeated a host of top-ranked riva! l superstars, including Thailand’s famed world champion Jaowchalam Chatjanokgym and Australian powerhouse ‘John’ Wayne Parr. On July 7, 2012, Wakeling fought pound-for-pound sensation Artem Levin to a draw in a spectacular, five-round bout in England.
Wakeling comes from a high pedigree of fighting stock. His father Mark was a successful fighter in his own right and had a career which culminated with a fight in Thailand’s prestigious annual King’s Cup tournament in 1998. Wakeling’s brother, Mike, is a European champion.
Walker, experienced a career breakthrough last year when he scored a shocking, upset KO of WBC interim Muay Thai champion Joe ‘Stitch ‘Em Up’ Schilling after Schilling had put Walker down twice early in the fight in Las Vegas, Nev.
The come-from-behind victor! y earned Walker a spot in the ROAD TO GLORY USA inaugural, middleweight development series tournament in Los Angeles, Calif. on Feb. 9. There, Walker finished as runner-up after scoring a second round (1:26) KO on Edgar Del Fierro and a second round (2:13) TKO on Van Wyk Povey in the quarterfinal and semifinal stages of the tournament, respectively.
Walker is known for possessing frightening power in both hands and, with 9 of his 11 professional wins by way of stoppage inside the distance, he has an incredible 81 percent finish rate. Walker trains under Manu N’toh, a renowned instructor who also counts UFC middleweight Brian Stann among his students, and posted a 7-0 amateur record before turning professional in 2010.
Tickets for GLORY 5 London can be purchased online at Ticketmaster.co.uk and by phone at the exclusive ticket hotline: 0844 847 2543.
In the highly-anticipated heavyweight main event, decorated,! all-time great Remy Bonjasky (77-15, 40 KO’s) of The Netherlands will take on ferocious, surging superstar Tyrone Spong (68-6-1 42 KO’s) of Boca Raton, Fla. via The Netherlands.
All GLORY 5 London bouts are comprised of three, three-minute rounds. The complete fight card is as follows:
Heavyweight Main Event
Tyrone Spong (Netherlands) vs. Remy Bonjasky (Netherlands)
Lightweight
Andy Ristie (Suriname) vs. Albert Kraus (Netherlands)
Light-Heavyweight
Stephane Susperregui (France) vs. Danyo Ilunga (Congo)
Featherweight
Liam Harrison (UK) vs. Mo! sab Armani (Morocco)
Lightweight
Jordan Watson (UK) vs. Steve Moxon (Australia)
Light-Heavyweight
Raymond Daniels (USA) vs. TBA
Heavyweight
Jaideep Singh (UK/India) vs. Daniel Sam (UK)
Middleweight
Stephen Wakeling (UK) vs. Eddie Walker (USA)
Welterweight
Maxim Vorovski (Russia) vs. Duoli Chen (China)
Lightweight
Johann Fauveau (France) vs. Warren Stevelmans (South Africa)
Catchweight
Reece McAllister (UK) vs. Tim ! Thomas (UK)