Michael Walker / Photo from Fightnews.com
BY SAFIYA MERCHANT
Homicide Watch Chicago
Former professional boxer Michael Walker was working on making a comeback.
Walker, 35, was found shot in a gangway in 8200 block of South Drexel Avenue in Chatham about 8:45 a.m. Thursday, authorities said. Walker, of the 8100 block of South Ingleside Avenue, died at Northwestern Memorial Hospital about an hour later.
Walker, known in the ring as “The Midnight Stalker,” began boxing professionally in 2004 and won his first 18 fights, according to online boxing records. He began losing in mid-2008 and died with a career record of 19-19.
Damian Walton, Walker’s manager, said he began losing when he started taking on fights only weeks in advance for a paycheck. Walker recommitted himself to boxing and hired Walton as his manager about six months ago.
“He was like family to me,” Walker said. “I think we lost a good person.”
For the last three months, Walker would often ride a bicycle around looking for a job, Walton said. He recently had an interview at Walmart, he said.
Walton described the boxer as a charismatic person who loved his 9-year-old daughter and was a friendly person — even to his opponents.
“He cared tremendously about his daughter,” Walton said in a phone interview Friday.
Chicago Police have not released a motive for Walker’s slaying, but noted said he is believed to have gang affiliations.
Police are asking anyone with information about the murder to call Area South detectives at (312) 747-8271.