“King” Callum Walsh, the Cork southpaw trumpeted as the fastest rising star in boxing, is headed back to Madison Square Garden this March to headline another St. Patrick’s Day card. It will be the undefeated 23-year-old’s third appearance at the Garden.
Tom Loeffler and 360 Promotions will formally announce Walsh’s forthcoming fight at a press conference in midtown Manhattan next Tuesday, Jan. 14.
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 10 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.
That fight, a UFC production, was broadcast internationally on numerous global TV outlets in addition to UFC Fight Pass.
THOMAS O’TOOLE
Undefeated Galway light heavyweight Thomas O’Toole [12-0, 8 KOs] is set for his 13th professional fight on Feb. 8. He takes on James Perkins [13-2-1, 9 KOs] at the Royale Nightclub in Boston.
They are scheduled to go 10 rounds on the card billed “Rumble at Royale,” at the venue previously known as The Roxy.
PADDY’S DAY
Paddy “The Real Deal” Donovan [14-0, 11 KOs], the reigning World Boxing Association (WBA) Continental welterweight champion, had to withdraw from a planned “stay busy” fight in December due to a minor injury but now he’s preparing to fight his arch-rival in arguably the most anticipated Irish boxing match in history.
Donovan, who fights out of Limerick and trains in Dublin, and Lewis “The Croc” Crocker [20-0, 11 KOs], of Belfast square off on March 1 in a scrap billed “Point of Pride.” It headlines a Matchroom Boxing card to be streamed live on DAZN from SES Arena in an International Boxing Federation (IBF) world title eliminator.
If victorious, Donovan, who’s co-managed by New York City attorney Keith Sullivan and former world middleweight champion Andy Lee, could get a world title shot as the IBF mandatory challenger.
“It is going to be an explosive fight for sure,” said Sullivan. “Two tough, rugged Irishmen with a lot to prove to the world. We were concerned about the injury but feel confident that it won’t pose an issue for the March 1 battle. Paddy is locked in and training hard under the ever-watchful guidance of trainer Andy Lee.”
“There’s something different about a good Irish fighter and I believe I’m the next,” said Donovan. “I think having turned pro at 19 and now 25, it took many life changes since turning pro. It’s so much what I’ve learned in the gym that counts the most as it is the ups-and-downs of life – becoming a husband and father, losing loved ones – that helped me to improve. I’ve improved as a person and that helped me become a better fighter.”
Donovan is currently ranked in three of the four major sanctioning bodies: WBA #5, IBF #6, and World Boxing Council #14. He has dreamed of being a world champion since he was seven years old.
