Callum Walsh is at the forefront of Zuffa Boxing’s push into the sport. The new promotional outfit, led by Dana White, has just struck a major broadcast agreement with Sky Sports that includes at least five UK fight nights a year, and Walsh is looking forward to competing in Europe.
Trained by Freddie Roach, the Irishman has campaigned across the United States and headlined Zuffa’s first event earlier this year. He has only fought once as a pro in Ireland but wants to return soon. “I’d love to fight over this way, I’d love to fight in Ireland first. I’d love Ireland to be my next fight,” he told Sky Sports. He described his Dublin walkout as one of the best nights of his life, a sold-out arena of 5,000 that felt much bigger because of the crowd’s intensity.
White’s stated aim is to make boxing more competitive and less concerned with protecting unbeaten records. That approach appeals to Walsh, even though his undefeated status will be on the line. “I think Zuffa’s bringing the real mentality to boxing. You just fight and who cares if you’re undefeated or not. The main thing is that you’re putting on good fights that people want to see,” he said. “You’re not putting on 10 of the worst fights ever, 10 fights where you know exactly who’s going to win. Zuffa’s putting on 50-50 fights from the first fight of the night to the main event. It’s going to be real fights the whole way through.”
Walsh believes an unbeaten record carries more weight when earned against tough opposition. “At least if you’re fighting tough fights and you’re undefeated then it means something,” he added. “Undefeated means nothing if you’re fighting fellas that shouldn’t even be in the ring with you. In Zuffa undefeated will mean a lot more than it does in boxing these days.”
Zuffa’s model is a challenge to boxing’s traditional structure. As one of the first fighters to work with White—who has reshaped MMA as UFC chief—Walsh thinks Dana can make a significant impact on the sport. “I think Dana’s the right man to do it,” he said. “It doesn’t matter what you do, everyone’s going to criticise it until it’s popular. Especially Dana coming into boxing, people are going to be not used to it, I suppose, and not really seeing what he’s trying to do.”
Walsh wants to win a Zuffa championship. “If you want to be the best you have to fight the best. If you hold that title it will mean a lot more,” he said. “At least I’ll know if I get there I went the hard way and I am the best in the division. Even for yourself as a fighter that should be what you want. You want to really know that you took the hard path and you are the best in the division. You hold that belt for a reason and it means a lot more.”
After 16 professional fights, Walsh feels ready for the top middleweights. “They’re signing some big names, any of those guys, we can’t speculate, we just have to see what happens,” he said. “I’m ready for anybody. I love to challenge myself, I love to fight and whoever they put in front of me, whether I beat them or not, the best thing with Zuffa Boxing is if I take a tough fight, I’ll be back.”