Callum Walsh wants to face experienced, proven opponents as he attempts to make the transformation from prospect to legitimate contender by the end of 2024.
The next step in that sometimes-problematic process is scheduled for Saturday night, when Walsh will square off against Argentinean veteran Juan Jose Velasco. The 10-round junior middleweight bout between Ireland’s Walsh (7-0, 6 KOs) and Argentina’s Velasco (24-4, 15 KOs) will headline a six-fight show UFC Fight Pass will stream from The Commerce Casino & Hotel in Commerce, California (9 p.m. ET; 6 p.m. PT).
Tom Loeffler – whose company, 360 Promotions, represents Walsh – has been encouraged by the willingness of the hard-hitting southpaw and his Hall-of-Fame trainer, Freddie Roach, to take tougher fights sooner than later.
“I think it’s a good fight,” Loeffler told BoxingScene.com. “Callum knows if he’s going to headline UFC Fight Pass and continue his development he’s gotta be challenged. He’s got seven fights now, but it’s a fine line of not wanting to overmatch a young fighter like that. Callum is only 22 years old, but he’s got a wealth of amateur experience. You’ve gotta balance that out with him having to learn with every fight.”
The 22-year-old Walsh’s confidence comes in part from the top sparring he often gets at Roach’s renowned Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood, California, where Walsh now trains and resides. Roach began working with Walsh when Walsh showed up at his gym unannounced during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.
“Freddie and Callum, they both want him to be on the fast track,” Loeffler said. “We’ve made a lot of representations to Dana White about Callum’s talent and his abilities. The only way to show that is against quality opposition. If a young fighter like that gets to 20-0 and doesn’t fight anyone, it really doesn’t say much about the fighter and doesn’t really prepare him for when he does step up and challenge for some major title.
“So, we’re very happy with Callum’s development. And neither him nor Freddie have turned down an opponent yet that we’ve proposed. Naturally, we vet them on our side first. But when we propose ‘em, there’s never been any hesitation with any of the guys we’ve proposed to them.”
Walsh knocked out 37-year-old American veteran Carson Jones (43-16-3, 31 KOs) in the third round of his last fight, which took place June 9 at The Commerce Casino & Hotel.
Velasco, 36, has been knocked out by WBC super welterweight champion Regis Prograis, then-unbeaten Mario Barrios and Elvis Rodriguez in fights at or near the junior welterweight limit of 140 pounds. Roach also trains Rodriguez (15-1-1, 13 KOs), a Dominican southpaw who has emerged as a contender in his division.
“I really think Freddie’s style is very well suited for Callum,” Loeffler said. “Because a lot of times you can have a great fighter and a great trainer, but if they don’t mesh it doesn’t work well. It’s like when I thought Abel Sanchez was perfect for Triple-G when he was starting out here in the U.S.”
If Walsh wins Saturday night, he’ll fight one more time before the end of 2023. Loeffler hopes that his promising prospect faces a top-10 contender in the 154-pound division by the end of 2024.
The card headlined by Walsh-Velasco will feature two more unbeaten prospects promoted by Loeffler’s company in eight-round bouts.
Russian-born light heavyweight Umar Dzambekov (6-0, 4 KOs) is set to oppose Peru’s David Zegarra (35-10-1, 22 KOs) in the co-feature. Armenian welterweight Gor Yeritsyan (15-0, 13 KOs) is scheduled to face Filipino veteran Rogelio Jun Doliguez (25-4-2, 19 KOs) before Dzambekov encounters Zegarra.
Keith Idec is a senior writer/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He can be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.