WBC Prospect of the Week: Callum Walsh
Effervescent southpaw Cork fighter “King” Callum Walsh (8-0, 7KO) defends his WBC US Silver super welterweight title for the second time, and on this occasion he'll be topping the bill at Madison Square Garden Theater on November 9th against Ismael “The Bronx Beast” Villarreal (13-1, 9KO).
After a three days whirlwind tour of the Big Apple to highlight this upcoming crunch fight, which will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass, Callum is back at work with International Hall of Boxing Fame Coach Freddie Roach in Hollywood's Wild Card Gym.
Ismael, 26, won't have to travel far for this one. It's just a hop, skip and a jump from John's Gym where he trains. Before turning pro, the Bronx boxer twice won the New York Golden Gloves.
22-year-old Callum was an Irish National Amateur Champion six times and a European Championship Gold Medalist, “I had 120 amateur fights, I won six national titles, I won a European gold medal,” Walsh said during an appearance backstage at UFC 274.
Ismael's most notable pro win was stopping John Martinez in the second round, after two knockdowns in that round and three in total. The Ref halted it two seconds before the bell. It dented Martinez's 19-3, 16 KO record. He's hitherto enjoyed an eight fights winning streak, spanning four years.
Tom Loeffler of 360 Promotions, who is guiding Callum's stellar career, which includes the NABF Outstanding Newcomer of the Year Award, said: “Callum knows he's going to be in a very competitive fight and it's exactly what he's looking for. The proof is in the pudding. Callum has got to be the one who performs on November 9th, when the lights shine bright at Madison Square Garden.
“Callum's able to take from so much amateur experience and from what Freddie is teaching him on the professional side and it doesn't matter what style he's fighting. He wants to be on the fast track and fighting these big shows at such an early stage of his career. He is already ranked 16 by the World Boxing Council.
“I really think Callum's got the whole package. I've worked with a lot of great fighters… Triple G, the Klitschko's, Kevin Kelly and Chocolatito. At 22-years-old, being a big puncher, being very confident and being very marketable with his Irish charisma. These days, social media plays a huge part in a fighter's career and success. Callum is very appealing on social media.
“When we went to New York, we visited the 9/11 Memorial, we went to the Empire State Building, we did the photo shooting at Madison Square Garden, which has really rolled out the red carpet for him. At the media lunch, Gerry Cooney and John Duddy were there, passing the torch to Young Callum Walsh.”
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