Callum Walsh’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach declared his belief that the rising Irish southpaw, still only 22, will become a world champion at some stage over the next year. Judging by his latest display, a gutcheck over ten rounds as he headlined the Madison Square Garden Theatre overnight, the light-middleweight prospect still has work to do before reaching that ambitious goal.
Walsh wins, but it was far from straightforward
- Ismael Villarreal credited with a tenth-round knockdown, easily could’ve had another late in round eight as danger lurked throughout but Callum Walsh waded through it successfully en route to unanimous decision win
- Irish southpaw improves to 9-0 as a pro, going the distance for only the second time in his career and banking 10 valuable rounds in headliner
- Walsh’s post-fight interview: “Thanks to everyone who showed up, I felt really good… he’s a young fighter, this is his hometown, I knew he would show up. I felt like I won every round but one, we move onto the next.”
97-92, 97-92, 96-93: Callum Walsh bt. Ismael Villarreal via UD, improves to 9-0
Walsh makes #2 defence of WBC USA Silver light-middle title won in June
Every young prospect wants to stand out from the rest, make their name and assert those world-class credentials as soon as possible on the biggest stages. Many fall at the first hurdle, or can’t translate training to performances on fight night.
Given his ability, Callum Walsh is being fast-tracked – that much is clear – and it always helps when you’re getting a resounding endorsement from UFC chief Dana White in a discipline he has declared an interest in previously. Ask the 22-year-old’s girlfriend, #10 ranked UFC strawweight Tabatha Ricci, and she’ll tell you the same.
“Callum doesn’t like boxing, he only does it because he’s good. His dream, what he really wants to do, is to fight MMA. He doesn’t even follow boxing that much.
Dana loves him, he’s doing super well [in boxing], crazy fast and hits really hard. We train together, he’s always training and helping Tony Ferguson in camp, doing some jiu-jitsu and playing around. I do think he will come to MMA in the future.”
- Ricci on MMA Fighting’s Trocação Franca podcast
With all of that in mind, and the seven-fight card being streamed on UFC Fight Pass two days before UFC 295 in New York this weekend, there was a lot of attention on the Irishman. Not ranked in the top-15 of any of the four sanctioning bodies just yet, BoxRec had him #38 in the world at 154lbs pre-fight. For additional context…
Two-time interim world title challenger Carlos Ocampo (#37), Commonwealth champion Sam Gilley (#17), WBO International titlist Josh Kelly (#11) are all credibly seasoned boxers – all around the same age – sitting outside the top-10.
Billed as Walsh’s big night in the Big Apple, you quickly saw the physical differences between them in round one as Walsh began chaining punch combinations together but got caught with a right hand in the pocket for his troubles.
That sequence would repeat itself multiple times over, and perhaps speaks to his unwillingness to study Villarreal’s tape or stylistical tendencies prior.
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It wouldn’t have mattered, had the 22-year-old finished the night’s work in round two after hurting the Bronx native with a furious flurry in round two and having the six-year pro briefly on unsteady legs.
Instead though, he paced himself and that inadvertently gave Villarreal an increased sense of confidence as he frequently found defensive openings to exploit. Round three was a clear one in the 26-year-old’s favour, connecting on a big right hook and punishing Walsh’s sloppy head movement with straight shots during that stanza.
Left hooks landed clean for the home fighter early in the fourth, though Walsh presumably stole the round after stinging Villarreal with a short right before they scrapped in the pocket and exchanged leather during a busy fifth.
The Irishman was cut above the eye early in the sixth after being hit with an accidental headbutt, while Villarreal too was wearing some damage across his face as their exchanges intensified. For all of the Cork man’s good work, he crucially left his head exposed afterwards and often threatened to undo all that success.
Perhaps tiring from the fight’s pacing, he wasn’t moving enough laterally and Villarreal connected with power punching in round six and seven to punish him.
Walsh did a better job behind his jab in the eighth, making Villarreal miss more often and stinging him with a pair of stiff right counters.
Then he was stunned by a counter left just before the bell in that round, moments after turning Villarreal up against the ropes and landing some attacks himself.
Wobbling the American to start round nine, Villarreal replied with blitzing attacks before Walsh got the crowd buzzing by unloading two rapid seven-punch combos.
On his haunches early in the final round and gesticulating that he was tied up in the ropes again – like at the end of round three – Villarreal was credited with a knockdown shortly afterwards, though the commentators suggested it was more a push than a punch which temporarily floored the Irishman.
Jumping for joy and celebrating briefly, referee Steve Willis had to rein him back to action as a firefight ensued in the final moments with Walsh ultimately victorious.
Judging by how he held his belt post-fight, it appears Walsh damaged his left hand but it’ll be interesting to see how active he remains as the tests grow in 2024.
Picture source: Getty unless stated, quotes via UFC Fight Pass broadcast or hyperlinked otherwise
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