Young and rising - Callum Walsh

Irish eyes are smiling for “King” Callum Walsh.

When you attract the attention of names like Freddie Roach, Tom Loeffler, and UFC boss Dana White you are probably a guy worth keeping an eye on. This certainly appears to be the case with undefeated junior middleweight prospect Callum Walsh.

Born in Cork Ireland, Walsh relocated to the sun and surf of California upon turning pro. Walsh recently scored a TKO 2, to move to 6-0, at the Agganis Arena in Boston, Massachusetts. Walsh turned pro 15 months ago and banked his 6th straight win in his Bean Town debut. This was his first road game after going 5-0 at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, California, down the road from his training base in Hollywood.

An excellent amateur, Walsh had hoped to represent Ireland at the 2020 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, but Covid TKO’d that opportunity. So, post amateurs, on a trip to see his dad in California, he thought he’d pop into Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club and get some work in. Roach liked what he saw and 2 years later, here he is.

Walsh turned pro at the end of 2021 with a KO win in his debut. He returned in 2022, picking up 4 wins, 3 by KO. His most recent assignment was a step-up fight that he passed with flying colors. His opponent, Wesley Tucker, was a 19-fight veteran with 9 KOs. And, while he had dropped 4 of his previous 5 fights, it should be noted that one was against a 20-1 fighter, and 2 were against undefeated prospects. Plus, in 2 fights previous, Tucker had stopped 30-fight veteran Eric Palmer in one round. In short, Walsh was getting tested in his first Boston bout.   

Loeffler, is a master at building fighters and has worked with some of boxing’s best including Gennady Golovkin, Roman ’Chocolatito’ Gonzalez, and the Klitschko brothers, among many others. In a recent interview, he expressed that despite Walsh only being 5 fights into his career, he might be beyond the “prospect” tag.

“I wouldn`t categorize Callum as a prospect anymore,” he said. “He’s definitely on his way. I’ve started working with Callum early in his career as he’s still only 22, and we see a huge future for him”, he continued. “Freddie says Callum is one of the most brilliant and talented fighters he’s ever seen”.

During Walsh’s recent Boston fight week, Loeffler was also cautiously optimistic that we will see Irish eyes smiling watching big things from Callum in the next 2-3 years.

“It´s Callum’s first 10-round fight, so there’s a fine line between pushing and progressing him in fights, in which he’s going to learn at the same time. If he progresses the way he should, he will win a regional title and then the world title in the next two to three years. Green is the Irish color, so Callum is very keen to win the green and gold Belt.”

Trainer Roach, who fought in Massachusetts 7 times during his pro career, has called California home for years. However, he grew up just down the road from Boston in Dedham and made it clear during fight week that he was happy to return home for Walsh’s 6th win.

“Fighting in Boston was always special for me, as a fighter and a trainer”, said Roach. “Headlining an event, the night before St. Patrick’s Day, that’s the boxing equivalent of winning the Irish Sweepstakes”, he said.

In previous interviews, Walsh has expressed his desire to not only win but win in exciting fashion, good news for fight fans.

“Like another Irishman said, ‘we’re not here to take part we’re here to take over’, he said. “I don’t care who I fight, I’ll fight anybody. I’m here to knock people out, he continued. “I’m here to give entertainment to the fans”. 

Look for an early summer return from Walsh, one of boxing’s most exciting prospects.