Pluck of the Irish: Walsh hungry in ring
Cork fighter learning under legendary trainer Roach
Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach became boxing’s most sought after cornerman by transforming established fighters into world champions.
Roach’s list of clients is who’s who of the sweet science over the last 30 years. Roach reached his zenith as a trainer with Filipino super bantamweight Manny Pacquiao, a long-standing world champion once internationally recognized as the sport’s best pound-forpound fighter.
The Lord of the Ring from Dedham also managed red and blue corners in showcase arenas for Oscar De La Hoya, Virgil Hill, Amir Kahn, Miguel Cotto and Mike Tyson.
Roach has taken on a new challenge that both intrigues and motivates him in the latter stage of his career as he deals with Parkinson’s disease. Roach’s latest project is Callum “King” Walsh, a 21-year-old fighter from Cork, Ireland who he’s building from the ground up.
“It is a pleasure when a guy like him walks through your doors just when he’s coming of age as a fighter,” said Roach. “He came to the gym in shape and ready to show off for everybody and he works really hard every day.
“He works with worldclass sparring partners everyday and he does very well. He takes instructions well but sometimes his cell phone gets in the way and I have to take it away from him. But he’s great kid and a hard worker. He came to me to be a world champion and we are going to guide him right there.”
Walsh was introduced on Tuesday morning at a gathering of local boxing celebrities and media at Hurricanes on Canal Street in the North End. Veteran boxing promotor Al Valenti, whose family ties to boxing in Boston go back generations, was the emcee along with the bout’s promoter, Tom Loeffler, of 360 Promotions based in Los Angeles.
Richard Johnson, the curator of the New England Sports Museum, gave an historical presentation on Boston-based fighters of Hibernian ancestry from John L. Sullivan of Roxbury to Lowell’s “Irish” Micky Ward, who was in attendance.
“I have so much respect for Freddie and Freddie said, “Callum Walsh is one of the best young fighters I’ve ever seen,’ ” said Loeffler. “He’s so talented in the ring.”
Walsh is 5-0 with four knockouts as a professional on Roach’s watch. Walsh will be taking a huge step up in class when he swaps leather with Spain’s Leonardo Di Stefano Ruiz (10-1, 9 KO’s) in a 10-round super welterweight main event March 16 at Boston University’s Agganis Arena.
“I have had Freddie Roach in my corner for every (pro) fight that I have had and I couldn’t be in better hands,” said Walsh. “It is very good having a legend like that in your corner.
“The measure of knowledge that man has is crazy. I learn new stuff every day. To have that kind of a coach is a good experience.”
Walsh built an impressive amateur resume across the pond, winning six Irish national championships and one European gold medal. While that may sound impressive, amateur boxing in Europe and the professional fight game in the United States and are like two different sports.
Piling up points on the judges’ scoring cars with blows landed on the flush part of the glove over three rounds may work well in Europe. But in the U.S., a pro fighter has to be a boxer and a brawler with lighting quick combinations to the head and double hooks to the rib cage. Knockdowns and standing eight counts are what impress American judges who score each round from the high seats around the ring.
“When I came to Freddie I had a very amateur style,” said Walsh. “I have been able to adapt to a pro style with Freddie and learning from him how to stand down. So now my pro style and my amateur style are both very good.”
Walsh adapted his pro style to satisfy two very discerning but unrelated constituencies that make up the rabble of the fight racket. Judges look for quality over quantity in the punch count while fight fans that shell out dinero for a live show or pay-per-view value aggression and seeing the lesser contestant lying horizontal on the canvas. A fighter has to be popular with both in order to pile up wins and pack the house for a lucrative payday.
“I am always looking for the knockout, I’m a knockout puncher and I like to fight,” said Walsh. “The fight game is very different from back home because here they want to see you stand up and fight.
“Being a pro, you have to fight a lot more rounds. You have to learn how pace yourself and break down your opponent with body shots and stuff like that. I’m learning a lot.”
He’s learning from the best trainer of his generation.