Callum Walsh, Tom Loeffler and Przemyslaw Runowski pose in front of the 3Arena in Dublin, Ireland. (Photo by Jeff Bottari/Zuffa LLC)
“King” Callum Walsh’s homecoming battle is set to receive the royal treatment.
The red carpet is being rolled out for the fast-rising southpaw from Cork, Ireland, as Walsh (11-0, 9 KOs) will fight Przemyslaw Runowski (22-2-1) on home soil for the first time as a pro, 6 KOs) on Friday in a 10-round junior middleweight fight at the famous 3Arena in Dublin in front of an expected crowd of nearly 5,000 fans. The event will stream on UFC Fight Pass at 6:30 PM IST / 12:30 PM EST / 9:30 AM PST.
After headlining twice at New York’s Madison Square Garden Theatre, as well as in Boston and across Southern California, Walsh returns to his roots in search of a legitimate claim as the next face of Irish boxing.
UFC president and CEO Dana White has long supported Walsh’s career along with 360 Promotions head Tom Loeffler, and the MMA executive is set to shift Walsh’s momentum into second gear by promoting the card this week. When White announced the event on social media last month, Irish icon Conor McGregor called it a “Great fight for Ireland.”
Callum Walsh has a very influential fan in UFC czar Dana White. Photo by Lina Baker / 360 Promotions
“I love Callum Walsh,” White told The Ring in an interview. “I love his style. I love the fact that this kid has already fought a lot of tough guys on six fights (in his career). He’s willing to take tough fights, and I just personally liked the kid as soon as I was introduced to him. Promoting him is fun for me, and I enjoy doing it.”
Earlier this week, Walsh held a meeting to great fanfare at the Riverstown Boxing Club in Port Laoise, the gym in which Walsh worked to perfect his craft as an amateur en route to 120 fights, six national titles and a European gold medal.
“It’s a really good and exciting feeling to put on a massive show,” Walsh told The Ring in an interview. “It’s time to go big while you go home. It’s going to be a big night for everyone. I’ve grown up and can’t wait to show how much I’ve improved. I look forward to putting up a good fight against a tough opponent. I can’t wait to see what Runowski brings and how much he wants to win. I can’t lose at home.”
Walsh (23) last fought on home soil in 2019 and will make his pro debut in 2021. These days, Walsh lives in Hollywood, California, and is trained by Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach at the Wild Card Boxing gym. He’s also been a regular at UFC events and even got some major TV time earlier this year during a WWE event as he built his profile.
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach holds up his youngest pupil, Irish up-and-comer Callum Walsh, with gloves on. (Photo: 360 Promotions)
“I continue to improve every day and believe 100 percent in my abilities,” Walsh said. “I’m learning from Freddie Roach, the best in the business.”
Walsh has enjoyed world-class sparring since moving under Roach’s roof against the likes of Vergil Ortiz Jr., Serhii Bohachuk, Eimantas Stanionis, Elvis Rodriguez and Gabriel Rosado, among many others.
It’s paid off.
So far this year, Walsh has two wins, one against Dauren Yeleussinov in March and the other against Carlos Cervantes in June to set himself up for Runowski. The pair of wins were easier than his MSG debut last year when he survived some rough patches but proved he has a reliable chin against the tough Ismael Villarreal to earn a unanimous decision.
“I believe I’m ready for a world title now, but it’s up to my team if they think like that as they build me up,” says Walsh. “I never turn down an opponent. I just have to beat whoever they put in front of me, climb the ranks, and I’m there immediately.”
Loeffler said Walsh’s most recent three-knockout, second-round knockout victory over Cervantes was his best performance to date.
“He’s learning on the job,” Loeffler told The Ring in an interview. “The level of competition he fights with is very high. Freddie doesn’t want to baby him. There is a fine balance with a young fighter learning and adapting with each fight. It’s a tough fight against Runowski, who is an experienced opponent. I think Callum will be ready to challenge for a world title after 15 fights in a year.”
Loeffler compares Walsh’s rise and fanfare to the one he saw with Gennadiy Golovkin, the former middleweight king he helped build from an Eastern European unknown to a world star.
“The reception that Callum got feels like the early Triple G days,” Loeffler said. “We expect a great response this week as we continue to build its global brand.”
Abel Sanchez, Gennady Golovkin and Tom Loeffler pose with GGG’s middleweight titles ahead of the showdown with Daniel Jacobs in New York City. Photo by Tom Hogan – Hoganphotos/K2 Promotions
Walsh credits Loeffler and White for the breakthrough opportunity he got. White’s confidence in Walsh is further shown by making the overseas trip immediate coming off the crescendo that was Saturday’s UFC 306 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.
“It wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Dana White,” Walsh said. “Who better to have in your corner than him? It’s crazy to even think about working with Dana and him supporting my career. Coming to Ireland with me is going to be the start of something good.”
Runowski is bound to spoil the plan, having only lost in 2019 to known commodities like Josh Kelly and Michael McKinson in 2021. The 30-year-old, 11-year professional from Poland is unbeaten in his last four fights and is coming off a third-round stoppage victory in May against journeyman Benjamin Lamptey.
Loeffler said the event will have a high-quality, UFC-like production that will feature a commentary team of Raul Marquez, Brian Campbell and Corey Erdman and ring announcer Joe Martinez.
“This is going to be the highest level of production for any 360 Promotions show we’ve done,” Loeffler said. “Dana brings a lot of publicity and attention with him. There is a lot of excitement for this show, especially since only high-level fights are held at the 3Arena. Katie Taylor fought there last year, and we feel Callum is right there to follow in those footsteps and be the next generation of Irish boxing star.”
Loeffler’s ideal goal is to showcase Walsh in Ireland once a year moving forward, and he’s already angling to host a matchup against Xander Zayas for an Ireland vs. Puerto Rico showdown at Madison Square Garden.
“We’ve already talked about a Walsh vs. Zayas fight with Top Rank, and I can see that happening,” says Loeffler.
Puerto Rican up-and-comer Xander Zayas packed Madison Square Garden’s theater, as did Walsh, who helped beat the drums for their ultimate showdown. Photo by Patrick Corley
“It will be a big fight for me to make a statement,” Walsh added.
Walsh is currently ranked No. 8 by the IBF and No. 10 by the WBC at 154 pounds, and the division is loaded with top talent for Walsh to fight and further make a name for himself.
But first he has to run through Runowski.
Walsh promises a statement victory befitting the spectacle.
“I’m looking forward to putting on an eye-opening performance,” Walsh said. “I always look for the knockout in every fight. I’m not trying to be in there all night. I think I’m the best fighter in the world. They just don’t know it yet. If you don’t think you’re the best, what are you even fighting for?”
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, author and broadcast reporter whose work has appeared on ESPN, Fox Sports, USA Today, The Guardian, Newsweek, Men’s Health, NFL.com, Los Angeles Times, Philadelphia Inquirer, Ring Magazine, and more. He has been writing for BoxingScene since 2018. Manouk is a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached at X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTubeby email at manouk(dot)akopyan(at)gmail.com or via www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
