“King” Callum Walsh and “Deadly” Dean Sutherland came face to face for the first time in Manhattan last week to begin the countdown for their St. Patrick’s Day eve scrap on March 16 at Madison Square Garden. Both fighters were brimming with confidence.
Hailed as the fastest rising star in boxing, the undefeated and world-ranked Walsh [12-0, 10 KOs] will be defending his WBC super welterweight Continental Americas title for the third time at The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The once-beaten Sutherland [19-1, 7 KOs] is from Aberdeen, Scotland.
Their scheduled 10-rounder headlines a 360 Promotions card billed ‘The Biggest Irish Boxing Card in New York City History.’
Five other Irish fighters will be in action on the night. They are: super middleweights Emmet Brennan and Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin; super featherweight ‘Fearless’ Feargal McCrory, heavyweight Thomas ‘The Bomber’ Carty and Donagh Keary, a 20-year-old featherweight making his pro debut.
The event will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass.
Said the 23-year-old Walsh before a large gathering of media:
“There’s nothing like fighting at Madison Square Garden on St. Patrick’s Day weekend. This is my third time headlining here and I know the Irish will turn out in a very big way on March 16.
“The team that I have; Tom Loeffler, Dana White, Freddie Roach is the best team in boxing and that’s why we’re here at Madison Square Garden. It’s the biggest Irish boxing card in New York City history and I’m looking forward to headlining that.
“Both of us are going to put on a show for the fans. His style is very aggressive and my style is very aggressive and we will meet in the middle of the ring.
"I’m honored to follow in the footsteps of so many great Irish fighters who fought in New York City before me.”
Sutherland, who’s 26 and three years his fellow southpaw’s senior, said he’d be undaunted fighting before Walsh’s large Irish support at the Garden.
“This will be my first time fighting in the United States and it’s in a great matchup in an amazing venue. I know that there will be a huge crowd of Irish boxing fans on March 16 but I’m coming to win, take the title home and keep my winning streak alive.
"I’ve seen Callum’s fights, he’s very aggressive as am I. Right off the bat there’s going to be action; none of this moving around on the ropes. New York boxing fans who want to see two real fighters - March 16 at Madison Square Garden is the place to be.”
Tom Loeffler, 360 Promotions president, hyped up what he promised would be a grand event.
“I’ve promoted fights all over the world but Madison Square Garden is my favorite venue,” he said. “New York City boxing fans have great expectations and we’ve built this card with not only a tremendous main event but with many exciting Irish fighters on the undercard befitting ‘The Biggest Irish Boxing Card in New York City History.’”
“Callum and Dean are both more than ready to test each other’s true mettle in the middle of the ring on Sunday, March 16. We’re off to a great start with selling tickets for this event and I strongly encourage fans to purchase in advance at MSG.com.”
Among the other Irish fighters on the card, Emmet Brennan, [5-0, 1KO] of Dublin, and Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin, [8-2-1,4 KOs] of County Kerry, clash in a 10-round rematch of their scrap won by the former at Dublin’s 3Arena last September.
Former world super featherweight title challenger ‘Fearless’ Feargal McCrory, [16-1, 8 KOs], returns to the Garden against Brandon Benitez, [21-3, 9 KOs], of Queretaro, Mexico over 10 rounds.
Heavyweight prospect Thomas ‘The Bomber’ Carty, [10-0, 9 KOs] of Dublin will make his U.S. debut against Dajuan Calloway [10-3, 8 KOs], of Warrenville Heights, Ohio, in a scheduled eight rounder.
And former Castlewellan amateur standout Donagh Keary makes his pro debut in a four-round featherweight bout against an opponent to be announced.
