Callum Walsh improves to 6-0, 5 KOs with stoppage win

In just his sixth pro fight, Callum Walsh was in a 10-round main event at Boston University’s Agganis Arena on Thursday.

The junior middleweight from Cork, Ireland, only needed two of those rounds to stop Wesley Tucker of Toledo, Ohio.

Walsh (6-0, 5 knockouts) dropped Tucker three times in the second round. After the third knockout, on a right hand to the head, Tucker’s corner signaled to referee Leo Gerstel to stop the fight.

The first knockout, midway through second round with a right uppercut. The second one, in the third minute, happened after a left hook that forced Tucker to his knees.

“He caught me with a few stupid shots early,” Walsh said. “I just did my job.”

Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach, who grew up in nearby Dedham, Mass trained Walsh.

Originally, Walsh was supposed to fight Leonardo DiStefano Ruiz, a tall orthodox fighter, but Ruiz 

broke a finger while sparring. Tucker (15-5, 9 KOs) is a shorter southpaw.

“It doesn’t matter who,” Walsh said. “Just tell me where and when.” 

Danny O’Connor of Framingham, Mass. returned to the ring after a five-year hiatus with a fifth-round stoppage victory against Luis Garcia of Richmond, California at junior middleweight.

O’Connor batters Garcia’s face and opened up a cut on the bridge of Garcia’s nose in the second round. The ringside physician examined Garcia four times before finally advising Gerstel to stop the fight at 1:55 of the fifth round. O’Connor improved to (31-3,12 KOs). Garcia dropped to (13-2-1,9 KOs).

“I did expect that,” O’Connor said. “Not a lot of people would. Usually, a fighter doesn’t come back better but nobody knew the work that I’ve done.

“I was breaking him down. That’s what comes with experience. I had a full eight rounds to do it but I’m prepared for 12. I’m training for championship bouts on the elite level because that’s what I want.”

This was O’Connor’s first fight since March 2018, when he defeated Steve Claggett. O’Connor was supposed to challenge Jose Ramirez for the WBC super lightweight title later in 2018, but he had to withdraw due to dehydration while trying to make weight.

He currently lives in Colorado, where he works full-time as a firefighter.

Middleweight Frank Hogan of Weymouth, Mass. earned a TKO victory when Jimmy Williams of Plainfield, N.J. did not answer the bell for the sixth round of a scheduled eight. Hogan was cut on both ears and his left eye, but punished Williams throughout the fight until Williams’ corner stopped the fight. Hogan is (14-0,13 KOs); Williams is (18-11-2, 6 KOs) 

Hegly Modqueda of Venezuela won an eight-round split decision against Jose Edgardo Garcia of Houston at featherweight. The scores were 77-75 and 77-75 for Mosqueda (24-0, 18 KOs) and 77-75 for Garcia (13-4, 9 KOs).

Kendrick Ball, Jr. of Worcester, Mass. won a six-round unanimous decision against Mike Stegall of Cedar Hill, Mo. at light heavyweight. The scores were 60-54 (twice) and 59-55. Ball improved to 20-1-3 (12); Stehgall dropped to (7-1-3,3 KOs).

In the off-TV bouts, Jonathan DePina of Boston knocked out Richard Barnard of Waianae, Hawaii in the first round of a scheduled four at lightweight. DePina is now (12-1, 5 KOs); Barnard is (1-11-1).

Nicolas Tejada of Haverhill, Mass. outpointed William Frank Harrington of Indiana, Pa. in a four-round super lightweight bout. Tejeda is now 4-0. Harrington is 1-1.

Kevin Walsh of Brockton, Mass. won a six-round unanimous decision against Andrew Bentley of Irvington, N.J. at lightweight. The scores were not announced.

Walsh (8-0, 4 KOs) dropped Bentley in the third round with a right uppercut. Bentley dropped to 5-7.

In a lightweight bout scheduled for four, Jaydell Pazmino of Boston knocked out Kyle Massoth of Troy, N.Y. in the first round. Pazmino (2-0, 2 KOs) dropped Massoth twice in 41 seconds before the fight ended. Massoth dropped to 0-4.