“Deadly” Dean Sutherland, a once-beaten Scotsman out of Aberdeen, is “King” Callum Walsh’s opponent in the St. Patrick’s Day weekend show main event at The Theater at Madison Square Garden on March 16. The battle of southpaws is scheduled for 10 rounds in what will be the undefeated Walsh’s [12-0, 10 KOs] third defense of his WBC Continental Americas super welterweight title.
Sutherland [19-1, 7 KOs] is the British Boxing Board of Control [BBBofC] Celtic super welterweight champion. At 26, he’s three years older than Walsh.
Five other Irish fighters are also on the card, billed “the biggest Irish boxing card in New York City history.” They are: super welterweights 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 is promoted by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions and will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass, the world’s leading digital subscription service for combat sports. Tickets for the show are on sale at msg.com.
Ranked #6 by the International Boxing Federation and #7 by the World Boxing Council, Walsh will be headlining at The Theater at Madison Square Garden for the third time.
“It’s a thrill to be fighting back at Madison Square Garden for the third time and again on St. Patrick’s Day weekend,” said the undefeated Corkman, who’s trained by Hall of Famer Freddie Roach and is hailed as the fastest rising star in boxing. “I’ll be ready to put on a show for the biggest Irish celebration in New York City.”
Walsh’s two previous fights at the Garden – in November 2023 and March last year – were in defense of his WBC Continental Americas super welter belt. He outpointed Ishmael Villareal over 10 rounds the first time and knocked out Dauren Yeleussinov in the ninth round, on his second visit.
Now 12-0 with ten knockouts, the Los Angeles-based Walsh capped off 2024 with his third knockout victory of the year, over Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski [22-3-1, 6 KOs] last September. The second round stoppage occurred in Walsh's Irish homecoming before more than 5,000 fans at the 3Arena in Dublin.
“I’m headed to New York City for victory in front of the Irish boxing fans on Sunday, March 16,” said Sutherland. “My winning streak of six fights in a row will continue as I move up in the rankings and win the WBC Continental Americas Title.”
He fought four times in 2024, closing the year in style with a fourth-round stoppage of Fraser Wilkinson in Aberdeen last November, in his first defense of the BBBofC Celtic title.
“We’re very excited to promote another huge Irish boxing card at Madison Square Garden,” said Loeffler. “This fight provides Callum another opportunity to prove that he is the best and most marketable young fighter in boxing as he headlines this famed venue for the third time.”
“Thanks very much for their support to Madison Square Garden and to our broadcast partners, Dana White and UFC Fight Pass for live streaming the event globally.”
Fighting in the ten-round co-main event, super welterweights Emmet Brennan, [5-0, 1KO] of Dublin, and Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin, [8-2-1,4 KOs] of County Kerry, will face-off in a rematch from their hotly contested clash won by Brennan at the 3Arena last September.
Former world 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.
