Callum Walsh on his career so far: 'Everything happens for a reason'

Michael Bolton

One of the biggest prospects in Irish boxing headlines the 3Arena this Friday, as Cork's Callum Walsh takes on Przemyslaw Runowski as he defends his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title.

With an 11-0 record, the Cobh boxer has been making headlines across the Atlantic in the US, as he has made the boxing world stand up and take notice of his career.

After shows in Boston and Los Angeles, heading in Ireland was always the dream for Walsh.

"It is unbelievable. I have had 11 fights, a lot of them in LA, a couple of them un New York, one in Boston, I was getting closer to that Irish crowd", Walsh told Breakingnews.

"In New York, I got a feel for the Irish crowd. Coming back to Dublin, and having that real Irish crowd in the 3Arena, I think it is going to be a very good night.

"Since I first turned pro, I always wanted to fight in Ireland. I was fighting so far away, I wanted to get back to Ireland and put on a show for the home crowd. It has taken a while, but it is definitely worth it with the size of the show we have been able to put on."

For Irish boxers, Walsh took the road less travelled. Still an amateur in the time of the pandemic, with gyms closed and unsure on his next move, he made the decision to move to America.

With professional boxing not on his mind at this time, training with those at the top level of the sport showed what he is capable of, and helped make his decision to turn professional.

"My main intention was to go there and just train. At the time it was Covid and the gyms here were closed, my main intention was to train and come back and still fight as an amateur.

"Once I got over there and I started to train with some pros, I was sparring with some pros and I was doing very well. That is when I decided to just turn pro.

"I came from Cobh, and I was living in the middle of Hollywood, it was crazy at the time. You have a whole team, you have a whole system, it was completely different to anything I was used to."

For Irish boxing fans, the most recent memory of boxing is the Paris Olympics, as Kellie Harrington captured gold once again.

In what is seen as the highlight of any amateur boxer, the Olympics was something Walsh did not experience.

However, as he watch the action unfold in Paris this summer, he did not feel any regret for how his career had turned out, and admitted he would not be where he is today had he qualified.

"I always thought when I was an amateur the Olympics was going to be my main goal, but different things didn't go my way. I went to America and turned pro.

"I have no regrets. I didn't watch it and think oh I wish I was there, because I am doing what I am doing. I feel like everything happens for a reason, and that was the reason.

"I didn't qualify, and now I am headlining the 3 Arena. I am happy with what I am doing".

On Friday, there is going to be some big names in Dublin who have helped Walsh on his journey in his career so far.

His promoter is Tom Loeffler, who has promoted legendary names in the sport such as Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.

Also there to support Walsh on Friday will be UFC president and CEO Dana White.

Training Walsh is Freddie Roach, who had trained the likes of Manny Pacquiao, Amir Kahn and Julio César Chávez Jr.

Walsh revealed after years of success, Roach is still an enthusiastic as ever to add him on to his long list of world champions.

"He has had 40 odd world champions. The amount of experience he has, I couldn't be learning a pro style from anyone better really than Freddie Roach.

"It's crazy really, he has done so much in the sport already, and he is still continuing to do more. Still training up and cming fighters like me and there's a couple of more.

"The man never stops. He is doing pads for all of us every day, and I have learned a lot fro Freddie already, so I am looking forward to continuing my career with him.

Also on Friday's card is unbeaten Dublin heavyweight Thomas Carty. Toyko Olympian Emmett Brennan takes on Kerry’s Kevin Cronin in an eight-round bout for the super middleweight Celtic title.