On Friday evening, Callum Walsh (9-0, 7 KOs) aims to continue his progression up the junior middleweight ranks when he steps into the ring at The Theater at Madison Square Garden to take to Dauren Yeleussinov (11-3-1, 10 KOs) and kick off St. Patrick’s Day weekend in the Big Apple.
Walsh, a solid amateur who won European gold, turned pro in 2021 after his goal of qualifying for the Olympics was delayed by the coronavirus pandemic.
Few boxers entering their third year and 10th contest as a professional have as much going for them as the young man from Cork. Trained by Freddie Roach ever since he knocked on the door of the Wild Card Gym and impressed the veteran with his performance in training, he is promoted by Tom Loeffler – best known for shepherding the careers of Gennady Golovkin and the Klitschko brothers – and has an ardent admirer in Dana White, who has been bankrolling the Irishman’s career and ensuring his fights are streamed on UFC Fight Pass.
But careers are made in the ring, not out of them, and an upset loss can delay or even divert a pathway to the pinnacle. In his last outing, against Ismael Villareal in November, Walsh was not only taken the distance for just the second time in his pro career, he took his first-ever count when he touched the canvas with his gloves while off-balance in the final round. Afterward, he admitted recently to Donald McRae of The Guardian, he was “pissing blood” from his opponent’s body punches.
It will only get harder from here, but Walsh already has his eyes set on becoming a world champion and fighting in front of a hometown crowd.
It remains to be seen whether Walsh has genuine world title credentials, or whether he will one day find himself listed in the pantheon of greats from the Emerald Isle.
That list, while not as deep or long as the best of the best from, say, Mexico or Puerto Rico, nonetheless contains some impressive names. Here, with St. Patrick’s Day approaching, is one man’s list of the best pugilists in the history of the Land of Saints and Scholar.
- Jimmy McLarnin
Born in County Down in 1907, McLarnin emigrated at age three to Canada with his family and began boxing as a young man in Vancouver, British Columbia. In 1924, he moved to San Francisco in search of greater opportunity, but given his youth struggled to book fights until he lied about his age, earning him the nickname “Baby Face.” He scored wins over Pancho Villa and a faded Benny Leonard and became a huge attraction when he fought at Madison Square Garden. He won the welterweight championship of the world in 1933 via a first-round knockout of Young Corbett III, and then engaged in three nip-and-tuck distance fights with the great Barney Ross, winning the second but losing the others. After splitting a pair of bouts with Tony Canzoneri, he retired aged just 31, living a happy, healthy, and lengthy post-boxing life and passing away at the age of 92.
- Nonpareil Jack Dempsey
The original Jack Dempsey was born as John Edward Kelly in County Kildare in 1862. He was undefeated through his first 62 bouts and lost just three of 68, earning him the nickname “Nonpareil”, or “Without Equal.” Lightning quick, he frequently fought men 10 to 15 pounds heavier, and in 1886 became the first commonly accepted middleweight champion of the world. His first defeat came in 1889 to George LaBlanche, but the “pivot punch” – essentially a spinning backhander – with which LaBlanche scored a 32nd round knockout was promptly declared illegal. He lost his title to Bob Fitzsimmons in 1891; depleted by tuberculosis, he was knocked out by Tommy Ryan in January 1895. He didn’t fight again and died that November.
- Katie Taylor
Arguably the greatest female boxer to have fought as a professional, Taylor was a superstar in her native land before she ever fought in the paid ranks, winning Olympic gold in London in 2012 (where she was the flag bearer for Ireland) as well as five world and six European championships. Turning pro in 2016, she won a lightweight title the following year and became undisputed champion in 2018. In 2022, her title defense against Amanda Serrano in front of a sold-out crowd at New York’s Madison Square Garden was dubbed ‘Fight of the Year’ by Sports Illustrated. She suffered her first defeat when attempting to wrest the 140 pound title from Chantelle Cameron, but succeeded at her second attempt, outpointing Cameron in the rematch to confirm her status as one of Ireland’s modern greats.
(In a previous version of this list, posted I listed Taylor at #5, but her rematch win and second world title is enough to earn her a promotion.)
- Rinty Monaghan
John Joseph Monaghan is said to have earned the name ‘Rinty’ from his mother, who called him Rin Tin Tin because of the stray dogs he would bring home. A man of many talents as well as a dog-loving heart, he would end his fights at King’s Hall in his native Belfast by singing “When Irish Eyes Are Smiling,” and in 1943 formed a musical trio called “The Three Hillbillies” to entertain the troops in Western Europe. As a boy in the 1920s, he boxed in street fights for the grand prize of a fish supper, before turning professional in 1932 at the age of just 14. In 1948, he became undisputed world flyweight champion with victory over Scotland’s Jackie Patterson, prompting celebrations and bonfires in Belfast’s York Street, where a statue of him now stands. Forced to retire at the age of just 31 due to bronchial problems, his professional record was 52-9-8 (20 KOs).
- Steve Collins
In an era when the middleweight and super-middleweight division on the eastern side of the Atlantic was dominated by Nigel Benn and Chris Eubank, “The Celtic Warrior” may have been the best of the lot – and certainly he proved the superior to both men in the ring, defeating them both twice. Born in Dublin in 1964, he unsuccessfully challenged Mike McCallum in 1990 for a middleweight bout in just his 17th pro bout; he subsequently lost close and controversial decisions to Reggie Johnson and Sumbu Kalambay before closing out his career with 15 straight wins over four years. Those wins included a stoppage of Chris Pyatt for a middleweight strap, defeating Eubank for the super middleweight belt and defending it against him, Benn (twice) and four others, before retiring when he was stripped after he was unable to defend against Joe Calzaghe because of injury.
Honorable Mentions (in alphabetical order):
John Caldwell
Won Olympic gold in Melbourne in 1956, and became world bantamweight champion in 1961 – the first Irishman since Monaghan to win a world title. Lost his title and his unbeaten record to the great Eder Jofre and, hampered by eye problems over the final stages of his career, retired in 1965 with a record of 29-5-1.
Carl Frampton
Won world titles at both at 122 and 126 pounds, making the Belfast-born Frampton the first Northern Irishman to become a champion in two weight classes. Split a pair of epic battles with Leo Santa Cruz. Named 2016 Fighter of the Year by the Boxing Writers Association of America, he retired in 2021 with a record of 28-3.
Andy Lee
A second cousin of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, he became the first member of the traveling community to win a world title when he annexed the WBO middleweight belt in 2014. Known for his spectacular come-from-behind KO wins of John Jackson and Matt Korobov. Retired in 2017 and now earning a reputation as a first-rate trainer and TV analyst.
Wayne McCullough
Known for having one of the highest workrates and toughest chins in boxing, the “Pocket Rocket” won silver at the 1992 Barcelona Olympics and won the WBC bantamweight title the hard way, by going to Japan to outpoint Yasuei Yakushiji in 1995. Fought memorable battles with future Hall-of-Famers Erik Morales and Naseem Hamed, among others.
Barry McGuigan
The “Clones Cyclone” became arguably the most famous athlete in Britain and Ireland in his mid-80s pomp, winning the WBA featherweight title from Eusebio Pedroza in 1985 and making two successful defenses before wilting in the Las Vegas sun against Steve Cruz. Has remained in boxing since his retirement as a TV analyst, manager, and promoter. Elected to the International Boxing Hall of Fame in 2005.
Mike McTigue
Won the world light heavyweight championship from Battling Siki in Dublin in 1923. Faced a Murderers’ Row of future Hall-of-Famers – Tommy Loughran, Young Stribling, and Mickey Walker – before losing the title to Paul Berlenbach in 1925.
Tom Sharkey
Boxed professionally from 1893 to 1904. His most infamous fight saw him awarded a version of the heavyweight crown when his opponent Bob Fitzsimmons was controversially disqualified by referee Wyatt Earp in February 1896. Twice engaged in grueling battles with James Jeffries, losing both contests but earning Jeffries’ praise. “If ever there was a game fighter, that was the man,” Jeffries said. Elected to the Hall of Fame in 2003.
(A version of this article first appeared on ProBoxTv.com on May 24, 2023)