Cork’s Callum Walsh joins Canelo–Crawford blockbuster in Vegas

Cork boxer Callum Walsh, who is from Cobh, is set for a significant outing in September as part of the Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez versus Terence Crawford showdown in Las Vegas.

The rising star will fight Fernando Vargas Jr (17-0, 15Kos) live on Netflix. Vargas is the son of former two-time world champion of the same name Fernando.

On what will be one of the biggest cards of the year at Allegiant Stadium on September 13, the Super Welterweight scrap has been announced as a co-main event.

Cobh native Walsh is backed by UFC CEO Dana White, who is promoting the Canelo-led event, along with Saudi Arabia’s boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh. His previous bouts have been broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.

Walsh’s last outing was a fifth-round technical decision against Elias Espadas. 

The 24-year-old suffered a nasty gash after a clash of heads and the fight was called off halfway through. The Freddie Roach-trained southpaw now faces the toughest test of his career.

“I got the opportunity/platform that is all I ever needed,” said Vargas on social media.

“This fight, I will turn doubters into believers.” 

The meeting between Canelo Álvarez and Terence Crawford sees the Mexican superstar defend his super middleweight dominance against the undefeated American. 

It is being billed as a ‘once in a lifetime’ fight.

It comes during a busy month for Irish boxing. 

On the same day, the first-ever all-Irish world title fight between Paddy Donovan and Lewis Crocker takes place at Windsor Park, Belfast.

Olympian Michael Conlan will fight professionally in Dublin for the first time on September 5 when he faces British boxer Jack Bateson at the 3Arena.

Meanwhile, Chris Eubank Jr and Conor Benn’s rematch will take place at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in November, according to Ring Magazine.

The men had been due to go head to head for a second time on September 20 but, with Eubank Jr claiming he would not be ready for that date, the bout has now been scheduled for Saturday, November 15.

Eubank Jr won a ferocious first meeting, fought at the 160lb middleweight limit, on a unanimous points decision, with all three judges scoring the contest 116-112 at the same venue in April.

He later claimed he had undergone eye surgery after being “headbutted” by Benn and spent two nights in hospital as a result of severe dehydration.

The fight captured the imagination of boxing fans after rekindling memories of the fierce rivalry between their fathers three decades earlier.