Callum Walsh: ‘I just want to win as much as I can, as quick as I can’

Young Irish fighter on turning pro after Covid, his MMA following and his St Patrick’s weekend showdown with Dauren Yeleussinov

UFC Fighter Callum Walsh visits the Empire State Building in New York City. 

Callum Walsh is unbeaten and he has an engaging back story but, after only nine fights, the young fighter from Cork is riding a wave of publicity in America that many boxers can only dream of generating. Trained by the great Freddie Roach and managed by Tom Loeffler, who helped to shape the careers of Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko as well as Gennady Golovkin, the 23‑year‑old Irishman is also being hyped heavily by Dana White and the Ultimate Fighting Championship. It is an unusual combination that has sparked jealousy.

“If you’ve had 30 fights and you’re not getting attention, you’re obviously not fighting the right opponents,” Walsh says as he prepares to headline the Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York on Friday night.