junior middleweight up-and-comer Callum Walsh has his hand raised after stopping Wesley Tucker in two rounds. Photograph by Lina Baker / 360 Promotions
Callum Walsh doesn’t need pushovers or simple fights.
The unbeaten junior middleweight prospect needs to be challenged and pushed and needs to go away his mark within the sport.
Walsh will face his hardest check so far when he faces gatekeeper Carson Jones on Friday evening on the Commerce On line casino in Commerce, California. The ten-round bout will headline a Hollywood Battle Nights card and can stream reside on UFC Battle Go (10 p.m. ET/ 7 p.m. PT).
The southpaw Walsh (6-0, 5 knockouts), who’s initially from Cork, Eire and now lives and trains in Hollywood, California, has made a reputation for himself since his professional debut in December 2021. Walsh has annihilated opposition, together with stopping Wesley Tucker in his final bout on March 16 in Boston, Massachusetts.
Walsh will face a widely known fighter in Jones, who was as soon as a fringe contender at 147 and 150 kilos. Jones (43-15-3, 31 KOs) has fought the likes of Kell Brook and Brian Rose, each twice, Jesus Soto-Karass, Antonio Margarito, and Alfonso Gomez. He has gained his final three bouts in opposition to fighters with dropping information.
Whereas some fighters in his place might balk on the alternative to combat Jones and pad their document, Walsh is raring to face Jones and look to attain a powerful win.
“You’ll be able to see from my different fights that I would like a step-up,” Walsh instructed The Ring lately at a latest open exercise. “I’ve been placing (my) opponents down, by blowing them out in a single or two rounds. It’s not value my whereas. If I’m making an attempt to get to that prime stage, I’m not going to do it combating in a single or two-round bouts. I really feel like I do have that prime opponent in Carson Jones. It’s an excellent step-up. It’s an excellent check for me. If I beat Carson Jones simply, I do know I’m prepared for the subsequent stage. I’m wanting ahead to it.”
In Walsh’s 5 knockout wins, none have gone previous the third spherical. He opened his profession with three first-round knockouts and the Tucker combat ended within the second spherical after dropping him a number of instances.
Corridor-of-fame coach Freddie Roach gloves up his newest pupil, Irish up-and-comer Callum Walsh. Photograph / 360 Promotions
Walsh has at all times had energy, together with throughout his stellar newbie profession that noticed him win a number of nationwide and worldwide tournaments.
“I at all times knew I had energy, even after I was an newbie,” mentioned Walsh, who knocked out once-beaten Delen Parsley in his earlier combat on November 3. “I had numerous knockouts (earlier than turning professional). I used to be knocking folks out in headgears. As a professional, lighter gloves and no headgear, I’m not shocked that I’ve energy in both hand.
The 22-year-old has been working with coach Freddie Roach, who is legendary for coaching the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Miguel Cotto, and Johnny Tapia, amongst others.
Walsh has additionally been sparring in opposition to among the prime fighters within the sport, together with once-beaten junior welterweight Elvis Rodriguez, now-retired tremendous middleweight Gabriel Rosado, unbeaten welterweight prospect Gor Yeritsyan, and lightweight heavyweight prospect Umar Dzambekov. Iron sharpens iron, because the boxing phrase goes, and Walsh believes his skill-set has gotten sharper sparring and dealing alongside these fighters, together with being skilled by Roach.
“It’s unbelievable to have Freddie (in my nook),” mentioned Walsh. “It’s a giant confidence booster, figuring out to have a person like that in your nook, advising and telling you what to do. There’s nothing higher than that, actually. And do exactly work with him, to have that data. I had an excellent newbie background, and to maneuver over right here and to work with Freddie and adapting to the professional type has positively helped me so much.
“It doesn’t matter what weight. Freddie places me in there with everyone. Everybody that comes by way of right here (Wild Card Health club), I spar with everybody.”
Walsh’s fan base has grown since his time in the USA. He’s immensely common in his dwelling nation of Eire and hopes to combat there someday.
One of many causes Walsh has additionally turn out to be common is having fought on UFC Battle Go, which has a deal to stream playing cards promoted by Tom Loeffler, who promotes Walsh. The highest prospect has additionally caught the attention of UFC President Dana White, who has sat ringside at a handful of fights.
Walsh has additionally executed the rounds with the media, together with at UFC occasions. His clean-cut picture has boosted his marketability and recognition in every outing within the ring, on either side of the Athletic Ocean.
“It’s actually good. I’m solely six fights in and my fanbase has grown like loopy. It’s unbelievable to have these folks be part of my workforce. It goes to point out they’re one of the best within the enterprise. Six fights in and I’m combating (in) essential occasions ever since my second combat. The Hollywood Battle Nights sequence has grown each single time. You’ll be able to see folks find it irresistible. With Dana (White) concerned, one of the best promoter on the planet, something he touches turns to gold. I’m very glad to have the workforce that I’ve.
“My title is one hundred pc getting on the market. That’s what I would like. That’s what we’d like. Fighters should be speaking about me. They should know that I’m coming. I have to get fights again in Eire. My title is rising massively over right here in America, however I would like to return dwelling and get the Irish crowd (concerned).”
With the immense reputation of Katie Taylor, Walsh believes he’ll turn out to be the subsequent boxing famous person in Eire. A powerful win over Jones is a step in that route. He hopes to once more combat on the East Coast and later this 12 months in Eire.
“That’s all I would like. I wish to be the subsequent face of Irish boxing. It will imply the world to me. I’m a proud Irish man. That’s the place I grew up. It made me the person I’m right this moment. I labored very arduous again there and came to visit right here. I really feel like I would like to return and placed on a giant present in Eire for these followers.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He may be reached at [email protected]
