Breaking barriers: Boxing meets Nineball as Conah Walker visits UK Open in Telford

British and Commonwealth welterweight champion Conah Walker took a short break from training camp this week to swap the ring for the pool table, as Matchroom Boxing and the World Nineball Tour joined forces at the UK Open Pool Championship in Telford.

Following his previous crossover appearance with the PDC’s Bullseye Maths initiative, Walker was back in action – this time going head-to-head with former World Nineball Champion Karl Boyes in a competitive tutorial that saw the two athletes test their skills across the baize. He became the latest high-profile name to appear at the UK Open, with Matchroom Sport President Barry Hearn OBE having taken part in the main draw earlier in the week.

The pair traded shots and shared stories between frames – touching on Walker’s upcoming title defence against Liam Taylor on Saturday 21st June at bp pulse LIVE in Birmingham, the buzz surrounding the UK Open and the parallels between boxing and nineball when it comes to pressure, poise and precision.

“Whether it’s in the ring or around the table, it’s all about focus, pressure and having the right mindset,” said Walker.

“It’s brilliant to see different sports coming together like this, especially when it gets people more involved at a grassroots level. I can’t wait to defend my belts in Birmingham – it’s going to be a massive night.”

Boyes was equally impressed with Walker’s competitive edge.

“The UK Open is one of the biggest events on the pool calendar and to have someone like Conah here adds a whole new energy to it,” he said.

“He’s a proper competitor – you could see that straight away. It’s great to have boxing and nineball connect like this – and hopefully we can do more of it going forward.”

The visit was part of a broader effort to break down silos between Matchroom’s sports and create fresh, engaging moments for fans and athletes alike.

As the second crossover initiative of the week in Telford, the event was joined by the launch of Race to 5K – the World Nineball Tour’s take on boxing’s popular Fight Day 5K. The initiative invites players, staff and fans to meet and move together in an informal 5K run or walk around the venue grounds, helping to build energy and connection around the tournament.

Rather than community work in the traditional sense, these activations are about creating shared momentum across Matchroom’s sports calendar – finding new ways to mix elite competition with approachability – and giving athletes room to show different sides of who they are.

With the UK Open in full swing and Walker’s Birmingham showdown just weeks away, these kinds of crossovers are becoming a growing part of the Matchroom identity – where champions from different disciplines collide and new audiences find their way in through surprising and accessible moments.