<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13407876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="callum-walsh" source="Orion">Callum Walsh</keyword> says he's ready to follow in the footsteps of Conor McGregor and Katie Taylor.</li><li>The 21-year-old Irishman scored the second knockout of his burgeoning career Thursday.</li></ul>LOS ANGELES — 21-year-old boxer <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/callum-walsh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Callum Walsh</a> may well be following in the footsteps of Ireland's modern-day great fighters like former two-weight <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> champion <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/conor-mcgregor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Conor McGregor</a> and pound-for-pound <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/katie-taylor" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Katie Taylor</a>.<a href="https://www.insider.com/callum-walsh-is-making-boxing-and-the-ufc-take-notice-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walsh has already made the combat sports industry sit up and take notice</a> as he's trained by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/manny-pacquiao" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manny Pacquiao</a>'s long-time former coach <keyword id="11931259" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="freddie-roach" source="Orion">Freddie Roach</keyword>, represented by Gennadiy Golovkin's promoter Tom Loeffler, and has the support of UFC boss <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a>."We have the best team," Walsh told Insider this week, shortly after scoring a quickfire first-round knockout Thursday — the second of his burgeoning career.Rising star <a href="https://www.insider.com/video-callum-walsh-bludgeons-another-opponent-in-style-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Walsh knocked super welterweight opponent Gael Ibarra out in a mere 33 seconds</a> at Quiet Cannon in Montebello, and rather than celebrate, he looked annoyed that he won so easily without as much as breaking a sweat.After changing into a shamrock-covered suit to celebrate his St. Patrick's Day win, Walsh told Insider that "it's an unbelievable feeling to get a first-round knockout."He said: "I would have liked a bit more of a fight but these first-round knockouts do happen as I hit too hard at 154-pounds."It is a knockout his trainer Roach prophesized earlier in the day when speaking to Insider at a <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> event in downtown Los Angeles."Like the last show, I expect him to steal the show again," Roach said. "That's what we did last time and we're going to do it again. He's going to blow this guy away."Walsh blew him away with ease.The youngster is still only two fights deep into a pro career but his experience in the fight game is relatively disguised, Roach argues, as he had 65 amateur bouts and won six championships.According to Walsh, Roach has taught him how to "transition from the amateur style to pro" as well as "sitting down on my punches."As for what the UFC president White brings to the table, Walsh said: "He showed me around the whole UFC Performance Institute, and Howler Head whiskey came on board as a sponsor."Dana White's really been pushing me on social media."<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—Tom Loeffler (@TomLoeffler1) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1491610251539333123">February 10, 2022</a></blockquote><h2>Is Walsh set to follow in McGregor and Taylor's footsteps?</h2><div type="image" title="Callum Walsh may be a future combat sports superstar." height="738" width="1000" msid="90337716" hostid="261"></div>Ireland's contribution to combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> is rich, varied, and storied.But its modern day athletes McGregor and Taylor have really reinforced the country's place on the fighting map.It begs the question whether Walsh can be the next fighter to follow in their footsteps, and add to Ireland's legacy as a nation that produces extraordinary combatants."I think so," Roach told Insider. "He's a good, good fighter. When you watch him spar and he only has one fight, how can a guy with one fight, do that?"He has had a very good amateur career and he's very seasoned, and a great puncher. He can knock you out with either hand."Walsh is sure he can be the new McGregor and Taylor. "Definitely," he said."I feel like it's my time now, and this is only the beginning. I'm coming for everything — taking over the world."

21-year-old fighter Callum Walsh is determined to emulate Conor McGregor as Ireland's next fighting superstar

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Rising <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> star <keyword id="13407876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="callum-walsh" source="Orion">Callum Walsh</keyword> scored another fast finish in just his second pro bout.</li><li>The Irish fighter knocked his opponent out in just 33 seconds of action at an LA show.</li></ul>LOS ANGELES — It is a testament to rising <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> star <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/callum-walsh" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Callum Walsh</a>'s power that he has boxed just 71 combined seconds in his pro career so far.The Irishman fought his second pro match Thursday, St. Patrick's Day, at Quiet Cannon Country Club in front of 1,500 partisan fans in Montebello, California, and bulldozed through his opponent like he wasn't even there.Walsh began the bout by applying immediate pressure to Gael Ibarra by thumping his skull and ribs with a rapid-fire, head-body combination of shots.From there, Walsh only asserted his authority in a more frightening manner as he threw powerful shots with an accuracy so tremendous that it was not long before Ibarra was down.A solid left from Walsh cracked Ibarra so hard that he collapsed to the canvas in an instant, and struggled to get up.Walsh knew it was over but rather than celebrate he looked frustrated — annoyed, even — that Ibarra failed to provide a greater challenge.This was, after all, a 33-second knockout — a finish five seconds faster than the 38-second finish he scored on his pro debut, last month.It was not like his team did not know something spectacular was coming.Walsh, you see, has been busy.He's received support from the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> President <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a>, and is trained by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/manny-pacquiao" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Manny Pacquiao</a>'s former coach Freddie Roach at the Wildcard Boxing Club in Hollywood.Speaking to Insider before the show, Roach said that he expected another fast finish from his 21-year-old pupil Walsh. But maybe even Roach was not expecting it to be over so soon.Watch the finish right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1504676660376915980">March 18, 2022</a></blockquote>"I hit too hard for 154-pounds," Walsh said simply after the announcer made the Irishman's win official. "That's how I see every fight going — first round knockouts."When asked how soon he intends to return to the ring, Walsh said: "I'm ready to fight [again] tomorrow. I'll go again next week. May 5, I'll be back here."Confirming the date for Walsh's third fight, promoter <keyword id="13407877" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-loeffler" source="Orion">Tom Loeffler</keyword> said: "It's another impressive performance from Callum Walsh."We're going to bring him back on Cinco de Mayo — Thursday, May 5 — here at Quiet Cannon."With victory, Walsh advanced his pro boxing record to two wins (two knockouts).Earlier in the evening, <a href="https://www.insider.com/eric-priest-bullied-his-way-to-nasty-19-second-ko-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">a 23-year-old American called Eric Priest bullied his way to a nasty 23-second win</a>, Omar Cande Trinidad scored a thumping victory over Ivan Varela, and Marco Deckmann showed his intimidating finishing ability by putting Victor Fonseca Calderas away after two minutes and 42 seconds of the fourth round.

Rising boxer Callum Walsh bludgeoned another opponent in only his 2nd pro boxing fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>You need more than knockouts on your record to develop into a <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> superstar.</li><li>That's according to fight promoter <keyword id="13407877" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-loeffler" source="Orion">Tom Loeffler</keyword>, who once worked for <keyword id="12118324" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="muhammad-ali" source="Orion">Muhammad Ali</keyword>.</li></ul>To build a <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/mike-tyson" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Mike Tyson</a>, Manny Pacquiao, or <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/wladimir-klitschko" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Wladimir Klitschko</a> for the future, you could do no better than to heed a life lesson from Muhammad Ali.That's according to <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> promoter Tom Loeffler, who told Insider this week that developing young talent is fundamental to his Hollywood Fight Night series of combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> events, which returns Thursday with a St. Patrick's Day show at Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, Calif."We started this Hollywood Fight Night series to develop talent to get to the next level," Loeffler said.Loeffler has represented a who's who of boxing stars, including modern-day American greats like Kevin Kelley, Shane Mosley, and James Toney, and international icons like Wladimir Klitschko, Vitali Klitschko, and Gennadiy Golovkin (Triple-G).Alongside his work with championship-level fighters is Loeffler's passion to unearth the stars of the future.Up-and-coming fighters he's recently signed include <a href="https://www.insider.com/callum-walsh-is-making-boxing-and-the-ufc-take-notice-2022-3" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Callum Walsh, a young Irish stud who dazzled in his pro debut in December;</a> 26-year-old knockout puncher Serhii Bohachuk, currently defending his country in Ukraine; and unbeaten Puerto Rican-New Yorker Brian Ceballo."They're tremendous talents," Loeffler told us. "So this platform is perfect to develop these young fighters' talent, and to see if they can make the jump to the next level — to the bigger stage."<h2>You need more than knockouts on your record to become a transcendent figure</h2><div type="image" title="Vitali Klitschko and Tom Loeffler pictured in 2004 ahead of the boxer's world title fight." height="1500" width="2000" msid="90298393" hostid="261"></div>As the promoter of Golovkin, and a longtime partner with the Klitschko brothers, it's clear Loeffler has "always been a big fan of knockouts…. It just makes the marketability and promotion of a fighter that much easier."But you need more than an extraordinary and merciless ability to separate an opponent from their senses. "You need to be exciting and successful in the ring, and you need to market yourself, and be good on social media."Said Loeffler: "When you're still early in your career, it takes a lot of time and dedication to honing your skills in the ring."And then you have to build your fanbase. It takes time whether its taking photos and signing autographs after the fight, then also be with the fans in your everyday life."It takes a well-rounded personality because a lot of star athletes shy away from interacting with the fans and only wanting to focus on training for the fight."<keyword id="13407876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="callum-walsh" source="Orion">Callum Walsh</keyword> seems to really like the adulation and interaction with the fans and the public."Loeffler said "that's a very important quality" that he notices in the 21-year-old boxer, who is set to star in Thursday's Hollywood Fight Nights show that will be broadcast on UFC Fight Pass from 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT.<h2>Modern-day fighters could also learn a lesson from Muhammad Ali, Loeffler said</h2><div type="image" title="Muhammad Ali is renowned for being nicknamed &quot;The Greatest&quot; in boxing." height="1343" width="2000" msid="90298394" hostid="261"></div>Appreciating the fight fans is something Muhammad Ali always did, Loeffler said."I learned that from 'The Greatest of all Time,' as I had the honor of working with Muhammad Ali when I first started working in sports at an agency, and I never forget I arranged a film premiere in Germany for Muhammad for his film 'Ali,' starring Will Smith."Muhammad, even though he had Parkinson's, jet lag, and we had a full-day program interacting with sponsors for the entire event, stood in the lobby late into the evening, at nine or ten at night, signing autographs."He knew that those fans, or most of those fans, wouldn't be seeing him again, and he really appreciated his fans. So, when 'The Greatest of all Time' can do that, that's a big lesson for some of these younger athletes for how they need to respect their fanbase."Loeffler continued: "Ali had a famous quote that played exactly into that story … that he spent all his life trying to be famous, so why would he then go in the backdoor or some secure area where there are no fans? He said, 'If I trained all my life, worked all my life to be famous, why would I hide from my fame and fans?'"That definitely embodies that situation that a lot of stars, or celebrities, in sports or entertainment, can lose sight of when they reach the height of their popularity."

You need more than knockouts to develop into a boxing superstar, according to fight promoter Tom Loeffler

<ul class="summary-list"><li><keyword id="13407876" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="callum-walsh" source="Orion">Callum Walsh</keyword> fights for only the second time of his pro career Thursday in California.</li><li>He enjoyed a wildly successful pro debut three months ago, and signed a deal with 360 Promotions.</li></ul>LOS ANGELES — Young boxer Callum Walsh, 21, fights for only the second time Thursday but is already making the combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> industry sit up and take notice.Backed by <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> promoter <keyword id="13407877" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="tom-loeffler" source="Orion">Tom Loeffler</keyword> and trained by coach Freddie Roach, Walsh has the support of the <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/ufc" target="_blank" rel="noopener">UFC</a> President <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/dana-white" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Dana White</a>, and could well be following in the footsteps of Conor McGregor and Katie Taylor as the next big fighting thing to come out of Ireland.Walsh made his pro debut as a free agent in December, spectacularly finishing Earl Henry with a violent flurry of punches in the first round.Loeffler was so impressed he awarded Walsh a contract to join his 360 Promotions stable, and built a St. Patrick's Day event for him to star in upon his return to the ring at Quiet Cannon Country Club in Montebello, California this week."He made such a big impact on his pro debut on our December show that we actually planned this date featuring him in only his second fight," Loeffler told Insider.Watch the thumping win right here:<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1503783147959296008">March 15, 2022</a></blockquote>Thursday's show, the latest in Loeffler's "Hollywood Fight Night" series, will be broadcast on <keyword id="11922275" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="ufc" source="Orion">UFC</keyword> Fight Pass — a subscription-based streaming service owned by UFC parent company Zuffa."<keyword id="12003697" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="dana-white" source="Orion">Dana White</keyword> got behind him 100%," Loeffler said. "We did a sponsorship deal with Howler Head whiskey already for Callum, and he's gotten a lot of recognition and praise from Freddie Roach, who's trained numerous world champions."Roach is renowned for developing Manny Pacquiao from a titleholder in the lighter weight classes, to a box office sensation and multi-divisional talent. Roach also taught <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> to Miguel Cotto, James Toney, and MMA legend Georges St. Pierre."Freddie is really excited about working with Callum and his talents," said Loeffler. "And we're looking to be able to play a role in developing him to the next level."<h2>Walsh may be the heir to McGregor and Taylor's throne</h2>When Walsh and Loeffler were hanging out with White at the Performance Institute in Las Vegas, the UFC boss told them how "the Irish thing is fucking powerful," knowing first-hand how it helped elevate McGregor into a crossover star.For Roach, a "knockout somewhere along the way" is pretty much guaranteed when Walsh returns to the ring on Loeffler's midweek show because he's a "good puncher.""I've watched tape on his opponent. He's a good opponent but … Callum is a bit too much for him," Roach told Fight Pass.<blockquote class="twitter-tweet blockquote" data-lang="en" data-cards="" data-conversation="">—UFC FIGHT PASS (@UFCFightPass) <a href="https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/1503426356125655042">March 14, 2022</a></blockquote>It begs the question as to whether Walsh can be the next big-name fighter coming out of Ireland, like McGregor — a former two-weight UFC champion — and Taylor, one of the all-time greats of women's boxing."Absolutely," Loeffler told Insider without hesitation. "One of the things that impressed us with Callum in his pro debut was his poise in the ring and his aggressiveness and punching power."Boxing executive Loeffler has worked for decades with Hall of Fame fighters Wladimir Klitschko and Vitali, and Gennadiy Golovkin, also known as Triple-G.It's no surprise to hear him say: "I've always been a big fan of knockouts.""With the Klitschkos, Triple-G, when you can provide exciting knockouts in the ring, it just makes the marketability and promotion of a fighter that much easier."And Walsh, when media is around to film his training sessions, likes playing up to the cameras when he's on the mitts and with Roach in the ring, Loeffler said. "He likes to be in front of the camera."Loeffler again recalls that wildly successful pro debut three months ago."A lot of fighters who make the transition from the amateurs to the professionals, sometimes they get a little bit gun shy and not as aggressive as they were in the amateurs. But we didn't see any of that."We definitely saw him just with eagerness to get the win in the ring and that's what really looks to set him apart — already having that star quality this early in his career."I've never seen, with all the fighters I worked with, people flying from Ireland to Los Angeles just to be there for his professional debut. It was amazing. People were singing, standing on the chairs, to see their hero walk in the ring."For Loeffler, Walsh has the "whole package.""You need to be exciting in the ring, and successful, but, at the same time, you need to be able to market yourself."He's good on social media, he's got a big fanbase already going into his professional career, and we're really excited about the prospects of developing the next future star of boxing."

The world of boxing is already taking notice of hotly-tipped youngster Callum Walsh after only one fight

<ul class="summary-list"><li>Dmitry Bivol is Canelo's toughest opponent since <keyword id="11955359" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="floyd-mayweather" source="Orion">Floyd Mayweather</keyword> in 2013.</li><li>That's according to Eddie Hearn who helped organize Saturday's event in Las Vegas.</li></ul>LAS VEGAS — <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/saul-alvarez" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez</a> returns to the ring Saturday at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, and it will be one of the toughest bouts of his 60-fight career, a leading <a href="https://www.insider.com/category/boxing" target="_blank" rel="noopener">boxing</a> promoter told Insider.Canelo's moves in the combat <keyword id="11893855" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="100" keywordseo="sports" source="Orion">sports</keyword> industry have already attracted the praise of his peers, with Muhammad Ali's grandson <a href="https://www.insider.com/canelo-already-an-all-time-great-nico-ali-walsh-says-2022-5" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Nico Ali Walsh lauding him as an all-time great fighter</a> already.That career has seen him run through a gauntlet — beating Shane Mosley, Miguel Cotto, Julio Cesar Chavez Jr., Daniel Jacobs, Sergey Kovalev, Callum Smith, and Caleb Plant.Back in 2013, Alvarez — aged just 23 at the time — challenged Floyd Mayweather but was comfortably defeated over 12 rounds. He's since drawn, then beaten, Gennadiy Golovkin in results that remain disputed to this day.Alvarez fights Dmitry Bivol — the WBA light heavyweight world champion — Saturday. Ahead of the fight, Insider asked the event's organizer, Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Sport, whether the Russian boxer is Canelo's hardest opponent in almost 10 years."I actually do [think that]," Hearn told Insider from his suite at the MGM Grand earlier this week. "And I think that it's one of those opponents that people kind of overlook because of the quality of Canelo Alvarez."Everyone in <keyword id="11922196" type="UNKNOWN" weightage="60" keywordseo="boxing" source="Orion">boxing</keyword> knows that this guy is a real deal," he said, regarding Bivol, an undefeated light heavyweight ruler who is renowned for his footwork, speed, and authoritative jab."This guy is probably the best 175-pounder out there. Definitely the freshest. He has never been hurt and could be in a position where he has the ability and technique to cause Canelo Alvarez serious problems."<h2>Canelo 'could stop' Bivol</h2><div type="image" title="Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Dmitry Bivol went face-to-face during Thursday's presser." height="1499" width="1999" msid="91373422" hostid="261"></div>For Hearn, though, Canelo's confidence is a level beyond even the most established prizefighters in the game. "He thinks he's completely unbeatable."He added: "Canelo, in my opinion, has to start fast which he doesn't really do, but he mustn't do what he did in the Kovalev fight which was to wait — and then get sort of dominated by a bigger man."But the difference is Bivol is so much fresher than Kovalev. Bivol's never had a tough fight. He's so undamaged whereas Kovalev lived badly, you know, and he got bashed up a couple of times."So Canelo's got to walk him down early and he's got to hurt him early, and if he does that, I think he could stop him. And that would be a hell of a statement."The Canelo vs. Bivol event, which is marketed with the strapline "Legacy is earned," airs on DAZN pay-per-view.

You Searched For "callum walsh" and got 5 results

21-year-old fighter Callum Walsh is determined to emulate Conor McGregor as Ireland's next fighting superstar

Alan Dawson

Rising boxer Callum Walsh bludgeoned another opponent in only his 2nd pro boxing fight

Alan Dawson

You need more than knockouts to develop into a boxing superstar, according to fight promoter Tom Loeffler

Alan Dawson

The world of boxing is already taking notice of hotly-tipped youngster Callum Walsh after only one fight

Alan Dawson

Dmitry Bivol is Saul Alvarez's toughest opponent since Floyd Mayweather, boxing promoter Eddie Hearn says

Alan Dawson