CAlum-Walsh remains undefeated and has a fascinating backstory, but after just nine fights the young boxer from Cork is riding a wave of publicity in the United States that many boxers can only dream of. The 23-year-old Irishman is trained by the great Freddie Roach and managed by Tom Loeffler, who helped shape Vitali, Vladimir Kerry Chenko and the careers of Gennady Golovkin. The 23-year-old Irishman has also been heavily promoted by Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It was an unusual combination that sparked jealousy.
“If you’ve had 30 fights and you’re not getting noticed, then obviously you’re not fighting the right opponent,” said Walsh as he prepares to headline Friday night at New York’s Madison Square Garden Theater.
Normally, all the attention is on Walsh rather than the 10-round bout he will face off against Doren Yelyushinov at junior middleweight. “I don’t know much about him,” Walsh said of the 37-year-old from Kazakhstan, who has lost three of 15 games. “But Freddie Roach has a game plan and we’re going to implement it and get the job done. It’s St. Patrick’s Day weekend, so it’s a big day for the Irish and a big night for New York . This is my tenth game and I feel much better in this game than my last game at Madison Square Garden. The first one was difficult but now I know exactly what to expect, And I’m very confident.”
Walsh has won seven of eight games via stoppage but faced a test when he first appeared at the Garden four months ago. Ismael Villarreal, from the Bronx, has lost just one game in 14 games and is aggressive and ambitious. “This is definitely my toughest fight yet,” Walsh said. “I was fighting a young rookie in his back garden and he wouldn’t lie down in front of his fans. In fact, I was pissing blood from the low blows.”
Walsh won a wide decision on points but was annoyed that the final round was being counted. “I didn’t really fall. He pushed me with two hands and my gloves just hit the canvas. So it shouldn’t have counted as a knockout, but the referee didn’t see it properly. I’ve fought 129 times [120 as an amateur] This is my first time counting. I just have to keep improving, fighting as much as I can and climbing the rankings. “
Walsh has been boxing for 17 years – his father took him to a gym in Cork when he was six. “I had my first amateur boxing match when I was 11 years old, and I was devastated when I lost,” said Walsh. “he [his opponent] A year older than me, but I actually beat him a few years later and won my first national championship at 15 years old. I have since won 6 national titles, as well as a European gold medal and I am working towards qualifying for the 2020 Olympics. Before COVID, I had never really considered playing professionally. “
Walsh was convinced he would win an Olympic medal, but Tokyo was postponed for a year. Walsh had visited Roach’s Wild Card Gym when he was 15, so in early 2021, frustrated by the postponement of the Olympics, he wanted to return to Los Angeles for a six-week training session. But his life soon changed dramatically.
“Ireland was a banned country in the United States and you couldn’t enter because of COVID-19 restrictions. Mexico wasn’t banned at the time, so if you quarantined there for two weeks, you could travel to the United States,” said Walsh. “So I flew from Ireland to Tijuana and stayed for two weeks. Then I tried to walk across the border twice, and they turned me back twice. And then, the third time, I actually took a flight from Mexico to Los Angeles. flight and they let me board the plane. I told them I was visiting family [Walsh’s dad lives in Long Beach].
“A few days later, I played in the Wild Card Round. When I was there before, I took a picture with Freddie and bought a T-shirt. This time I knocked and Freddie came out. I told him all my amateur titles and asked if I could train. “
Roach had heard it all before, but it didn’t make any particular impression. “He said if I wanted to train, I had to get into boxing matches,” recalled Walsh. “So I said, ‘No problem.’ I fought Blair Cobbs [a pro welterweight unbeaten after 15 fights] But I didn’t know who he was at the time. I behaved so well that Freddie asked me to come back the next day. That’s good enough for me. I slept on my dad’s couch and quickly decided to stay and turn pro. “
Walsh made his debut in California in December 2021, knocking out his opponent in 97 seconds, and I asked Roach what was most effective in teaching him. “I have a good amateur style, and I can box. But over the past three years, Freddie has taught me the pro style, so I’ve become more aggressive and able to punch.”
Walsh’s knockout record is impressive, but his real power is built outside the ring. He made it clear that working with Loeffler and White was not part of any grand plan. “I don’t know who Tom Loeffler is because I didn’t know much about the professional game when I was in Ireland. But I know who GGG is. [Golovkin] used to be.So the connection with Tom was through Freddie, and since I’ve been working with him, I’ve come to understand that [Loeffler is] Very connected. You’ve seen what he’s done to my career in such a short period of time. “
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Walsh is different from most fighters in that his fights are only broadcast on the UFC’s Fight Pass platform, which means he has a large MMA following. “I’m sure Dana White [who heads the UFC] “The biggest sponsor in the world,” said Walsh. “Not long after I signed with Tom, he started working on the UFC Fight Pass deal. Obviously Dana had great success with another young Irish fighter. [Conor McGregor]. So it made sense that Tom would introduce me to Dana. When I went to Vegas I showed Dana some of my games and introduced myself to him and he came on board as one of my sponsors with his Roarhead Whiskey. He’s come to a few of my fights and now he’s totally on board and wants to help me win the world title. “
As a kid, Walsh was more interested in mixed martial arts (MMA) than boxing, and like many young Irishmen at the time, he was shocked by McGregor’s success in the UFC.McGregor’s reputation has been tarnished since then, but Walsh said: “I remember staying up late for his fights. I was about 13 when he fought José Aldo. [McGregor knocked the Brazilian out in 13 seconds in 2015]. I stayed up all night, trying to wait for the fight, but kept falling asleep. When the fight finally started, it was over within 10 seconds.So when I met McGregor, it was the craziest thing, he actually knew who I used to be. He is now one of my sponsors. “
I like the fact that, unlike McGregor, Walsh seemed humble and low-key during our interview. “I’ve been the same my whole life. No matter what happens, I’ll always be the same person. But we won’t know how good I am until I fight the best.”
When asked who is the best fighter in his division, there was no mention of Jermall Charlo or Tim Tsiyu. “I don’t know,” said Walsh. “I don’t look at departments. Just give me the fight and I’ll show up and do the best I can.”
Walsh, who one day expressed interest in competing in the UFC, was certainly fully aware of the dangers of professional boxing. When I asked him to compare the rigors of MMA to his current career, Walsh shook his head: “Boxing is a lot harder on the brain because you’re constantly getting hit to the head. In the UFC, If you get knocked down, they jump on you and the fight is over. But in a boxing match, you get knocked down and they count to 10 and then you get up and recover and then you get knocked down over and over again. Punches and kicks. It’s more dangerous.”
Roach believes Walsh will be ready for a world title shot next year, while Loeffler and White discussed the possibility of him fighting in Ireland in 2024. Asked whether it might be in Dublin or Cork, Walsh replied with a wry smile. “I’m from Cork, so I want Cork, but I’m not involved in choosing the pitch and promoting it. I’m just in charge of fighting.”
“Boxing Champion” Callum Walsh’s promotion may seem ruthless, but the boxer himself is very pragmatic. “I just want to win as many wins as possible as quickly as possible,” he said with a wise smile. “And make as much money as possible.”
