In two previous outings at The Theater at Madison Square Garden -- both successful defenses of his WBC super welterweight Continental Americas title -- “King” Callum Walsh showed the skill and class that has his brain trust hailing him as the fastest rising star in boxing. The undefeated Corkman [12-0, 10 KOs] plans on putting on another show at the fabled arena when he meets Scottish challenger “Deadly” Dean Sutherland this Sunday.
Their 10-rounder on St. Patrick’s Day eve tops a 360 Promotions card billed The Biggest Irish Boxing Card in New York City History. The event will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass [first bell is at 4.p.m.]
‘The only way you’re going to headline a show like this is if you’re fighting and both of us are going to put on a show for the fans,” said Walsh, from Cork but based in Los Angeles. “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.”
Said Sullivan [19-1, 7KOs]: “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, but I’m coming to win, take the title home and keep my winning streak alive.”
Other Irish talent on the show include recent WBA world super featherweight title challenger “Fearless” Feargal McCrory [16-1, 8 KOs] in the 10 round co-feature against Keenan Carbajal [25-4-1, 17 KOs], whose last fight was also a world title tilt.
Super middleweights Emmet Brennan [5-0, 1KO] and Kevin ‘The Kingdom Warrior’ Cronin [9-2-1, 5KOs] meet in a rematch of their Celtic title scrap from last year; with heavyweight Thomas ‘The Bomber’ Carty [10-0, 9 KOs] matched against Dajuan Calloway [10-3, 8 KOs] in a potential shoot-out between two huge punchers.
Making their debut in separate bouts, both four-rounders, will be former amateur stars Donagh Keary, a 20-year-old featherweight, and light heavyweight Sean O’Bradaigh, who’s 22.
Keary faces Puerto Rican Geral S. Alicea-Romero, who’s 25 and has one pro fight on his ledger – a draw. O’Bradaigh, ranked #8 nationally in the amateurs, meets fellow debutant Jose Florentino.
THOMAS MYERS
On Saturday evening at Boston Harley-Davidson in Revere, Massachusetts, Sligo light heavyweight Thomas Myers [2-0, 0 KOs] squares off with Tyrone Albert Adams [0-2] in a four-rounder.
IRISH LEGENDS
This Thursday, Tom Loeffler, 360 Promotions president, hosts an Irish Boxing Legends Meet and Greet With Mick Conlan and John Duddy at Legends NYC located at 6 West 33rd Street. The event starts at 7 p.m. and is open to the public.
BATTLE OF THE BADGES
Three of the Garda’s finest boxers take on FDNY [Fire Department of New York] opposition in the second annual International Battle of the Badges at Madison Square Garden this Friday. Other bouts pit Bobby McGuire’s FDNY Bravest Boxing Club against fellow first responders from England and different U.S. cities. Fifteen bouts are scheduled.
In the cruiserweight division, Dan Hoolahan, a Garda boxing veteran at age 27, squares off with former Marine James Gennari, who’s 30.
“I am the longest serving member on the Garda Boxing team, since 2015, and my first trip to the States was against the FDNY in 2016,” said Hoolahan. “I love travelling to meet Bobby [McGuire] and crew. I am currently on a career break in Australia and have made the trip to take on New York’s bravest.”
Gennari is a Staten Islander and six-year FDNY veteran. He serves Ladder Company 24 in midtown Manhattan and has some 30 fights on his ledger. A highlight of his career was winning a bronze medal at the World Police and Fire Games in Rotterdam, the Netherlands.
Firefighting is in Gennari’s DNA. His uncle retired from FDNY after more than 30 years on the job. He also has a cousin who recently retired after more than 20 years with FDNY, including service during 9/11.
At light heavyweight, the Garda’s Jack McHugh, who’s 24, is up against Kyle McGrath, also 24.
McHugh is from Oranmore, Co. Galway, and has been stationed at Donnybrook GS since August 2021. He fights out of Monivea BC.
His opponent, McGrath, out of West Nyack, is a veteran of 22 fights. He’s an EMT at EMS Station 15 and was the 2022 Metropolitan Champion. McGrath’s father is a retired NYPD Lieutenant who served the department for 33 years.
And in the middleweight division, Kildare’s Eoin O'Neill faces FDNY’s Sean Dillon.
“I am currently in the IT fraud unit in Dublin and took up boxing just before COVID, under the guidance of school friend and boxing club colleague, Dan Hoolahan,” said O’Neill.
He’s 27 and went to school in Kilcullen.
The rest of the bouts are [FDNY fighters listed first]:
Lightweight -- Maria Fogarty [Steamfitters Local 683] vs. Lisa Pearson [West Yorkshire FD]; welterweight -- Tara Ionatti, [Lad. Co 129] vs. Christina McCants [Atlanta PD SWAT],
John Marrero [EMT St. 3] vs. Brandan Collins [DeKalb County PD], and Nicole Malpeso [Eng. Co. 158] vs. Alex Turbitt [UK Fire & Rescue].
Middleweight -- Miguel Payamps [Freeport BC] vs Nate Pacheco [Denver FD], Oliver Patrouch [EMT] vs Andy Hounslow [West Yorkshire FD]; and Patrick McKeown [EMT St. 18] vs. Berto Rivera [Yonkers FD]; and light heavyweight John Hamilton [Lad. Co. 43] vs. Jack Oakes [West Yorkshire FD].
Cruiserweight -- Mike Fiore [Capt. Div. 11] vs Jason Martin [DSNY], Klaudio Sterkaj [Victory Boxing] vs. Gavin Conner [Denver FD]; heavyweight -- Jeff Hunter [Jersey City FD] vs. Luis Blanco, [Mass. St. Trooper]; and super heavyweight Isiah Johnson [Cops & Kids] vs. Davey Scott [Yonkers FD].
“Proceeds from this year's event will once again benefit the Tunnel to Towers Foundation,” said
Maguire. “We have donated over $200,000 to this charity in just the past two years.”
Tickets, pegged at $35, $50 and $100 for ringside, are available from www.fdnyboxing.org.
