Callum Walsh’s blockbuster Madison Square Garden show: 'This is what the boxing world should look like'

One of Walsh's aims is to secure a homecoming in Cork

Callum Walsh punches Dauren Yeleussinov during their junior middleweight fight at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 15, 2024 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)

It is intolerable to be upstaged at your own show. Last September, Callum Walsh watched Thomas Carty walk out in front of a raucous Dublin crowd and deliver a dramatic second round finish. The Cork boxer knew he had to match it.

Walsh duly defended his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title at the 3Arena with a second-round knockout. That occasion sparked the next one. The 24-year-old Cobh native (12-0, 10KOs) will headline once more at Madison Square Garden’s downstairs venue against Scotland’s Dean Sutherland (19-1, 7KOs) on March 16. Fellow Irish prospect Carty will fight on an Irish-stacked bill. His undercard fight helped motivate Walsh’s latest triumph.

“When you are out the back, I’m the last fight and watching all the boys win,” recalled Walsh with a smile. “So, I watched Thomas Carty get the knockout and I was like, ‘I better go out and get the job done. I can’t let Thomas Carty take over the show.’ The Carty Party. It is good that he is on the show too. It is good having people like that, they show up to fight. He brings a great crowd too.” 

The eagerly anticipated rematch between Dublin Olympian Emmet Brennan and Kerry’s Kevin Cronin is also on the card. Brennan edged an eight-round contest on a split decision at Walsh’s homecoming, but it proved highly controversial, with UFC president Dana White declaring that Cronin “clearly won the fight”. This time they will fight over 10 rounds.

“Fair play to them for doing that rematch,” said Walsh.

“A lot of people at that stage of their career, they would have a tough fight, get over it and no way would they do the rematch. Fair play to them for doing it. It was a good fight and it is good for them too. Now they have the opportunity to do the rematch in Madison Square Garden.

“This is what people need to understand. You don’t get opportunities like this if you take easy fights. If they fought some nobody and got a knockout, they might not have the opportunity to get on a card like this. 

They took a tough fight, one of them had to lose, that is the business, but now you proved you can take tough fights. That leads to an opportunity on a bigger card. I think this is what the boxing world should be like. 

It's been an eventful few months for the Freddie Roach-trained southpaw. His relationship with Dana White stems from promoter Tom Loeffler. When White and Youtuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul began to trade barbs, Walsh found himself in the crossfire.

Social media star Paul took issue with White’s criticism of his farcical fight against Mike Tyson: “Couldn’t sell 4k tickets in Dublin with that useless Irish boxer he’s promoting.” It is highly unlikely that the pair will ever face each other. 

Walsh is currently ranked sixth in the IBF and WBC super welterweight rankings. There are 70 pounds between them. He is treating the whole thing like a joke. His focus is on much more important matters.

One of his primary aims is to secure a homecoming in Cork. The fervour that surrounded Dublin last year has cooled a little. For now, all he can do is keep winning.

“The only better place to fight on St. Patrick’s Day would be Cork for me. If it was this or Cork, I would have picked Cork. But who wouldn’t want to fight in Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick's Weekend? Especially this card we are putting on. It is the biggest card in New York history. To be fair, every time I go it is almost like being at home.” 

He can picture himself fighting at home. He sees himself at the top of the sport. He knows what it will take to make all of that happen.

“I do visualise myself with the World Title, I visualise myself on the big stage, but at the end of the day it is about fighting the man in front of you and seeing what happens.” 

Watch Walsh vs Sutherland on Sunday, March 16, on UFC Fight Pass. Tickets are available to buy at MSG.com.