BY the end of Friday night at the 3Arena in Dublin we will know more about just how good Callum Walsh is.
The Irishman blazed a trail in his first 11 fights, gaining popularity in America, where he currently lives.
Reaching the 12-fight mark will be different for the 23-year-old, though, as Walsh has yet to fight as a professional in Ireland, and in opponent Przemysław Runowski there is a benchmark to aim for. The 30-year-old Pole has already gone the distance with world-class Josh Kelly in 2019 and Michael McKinson three years later. Unlike other fighters who say “win at all costs”, a win over Runowski alone will not be enough in Walsh’s Irish eyes.
“I feel like if I can go in there and keep it and finish it, it’ll be a gigantic statement for me because it’s never been finished before and those boys (Kelly and McKinson) couldn’t finish it either. So it’s tough and if I can go in there and get the job done, it’ll be a gigantic statement for me.”
I spoke to Walsh after he finished another day working with trainer Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Gym in Los Angeles, where the American dream has become a reality for the Cork man. It’s a far cry from the youngster who once hauled lobster traps in Cork Harbour before calling it a day during Covid in 2020 and eventually packing up for the City of Angels.
Since then, Walsh has never looked back, but every now and then, the question of “what if” pops into his head. So, what if he didn’t trade Cork for Hollywood.
“If I hadn’t just taken a chance and happened to walk into Freddie Roach’s gym, I wouldn’t be here now,” he said.
“I definitely wouldn’t be a professional because at that time I had no intention of becoming a professional, I was just coming here to train. So if I hadn’t come here, I wouldn’t be a professional now.”
“I just got back to Ireland and nothing was happening,” he continued. “It was the middle of Covid, all the gyms were closed, nothing was happening.
“Work every day, me and my friends just going out and doing stupid things all the time. I just got diseased of it and thought, this is it, I’m going to move on, I don’t want to be here. I knew I could do more with it.
“At that point I wanted to go to America, to Freddie’s, and just train. My goal was to come back and try to get a lead. I was just going to go and train for a few weeks and come back. But once I got there and started sparring with the pros and training with the pros and doing well, I decided I might as well go pro and see how it goes.”
The powerful Walsh (left) is set to make a statement in Dublin on Friday (Photo: Al Bello/Getty Images)
If you’re not familiar with Walsh and his fights, YouTube has you covered. But when you visit, you’ll quickly realize he’s been here, there, and everywhere. Sure, having the support of UFC boss Dana White helps, but Walsh has comfortably embraced his fame. You’ll find Walsh on podcasts, interviewing with TMZ, filming meetings with the wealthy and eminent, and his girlfriend — Tabatha Ricci — is currently on the UFC roster, which has also put their relationship in the public eye.
Walsh, however, knows that it’s all part of the package, but that side of his life remains in its own box and so far hasn’t acted as a distraction that interferes with his career. Hopefully, it will stay that way, because boxing and fame can be a volatile relationship.
“There’s nothing that scares me or worries me,” he says. “The only thing that worries me is losing fights. I don’t want to lose.
“Especially coming home. I’m going to be fighting in front of a gigantic arena full of my friends and family. I just don’t want to let myself down or my friends and family down or anyone that shows up. I know what I can do and what I’m capable of.
“It’s just about going out at night and showing everyone what I can do. I want to prove myself and show people that I can do what I think I can do.”
“I’m one step away from achieving what I want, but you know, I still have a lot to do,” he adds.
“I’ve had some good fights, I’m in some good fights, I’m learning from the best, I’m learning from Freddie Roach at Wildcard and I feel like my career is going in the right direction.
“I’m already number 10 in the world with the WBC. I feel like in just 11 fights I’ve done a lot so far, and at such a adolescent age, I’m only 23. I feel like I’m definitely doing the right thing.”
Walsh is also ranked eighth by the IBF. His promotion is the perfect time to fight in the super welterweight and Irish boxing. The talent at 154 pounds is already there and there are a number of thrilling fights ahead of him. If Walsh continues to compete and win, it is only a matter of time before the Emerald Isle hosts an even bigger event than tomorrow night at the 3Arena.
pointed out to Walsh that next year (September 9 to be exact) it will be the 30th.t The 2018 Super Middleweight World Title rematch between Steve Collins and Chris Eubank took place in Walsh’s hometown of Cork at Pairc Ui Chaoimh.
“I would love to come back to Cork and fight there,” Walsh said. “That was what I originally wanted to do, I wanted to fight in Cork but there’s no real place to do it.
“At the moment the 3Arena in Dublin is perfect, it’s the perfect place to do it. Maybe next year we’ll try and come up with something and fight in Cork for the anniversary, that would be a good idea.”
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