Callum Walsh living the dream but never forgets where and how it all started for the Cobh man

Cork professional boxer Callum Walsh is fast becoming a superstar in the sport, however, no matter how famous a boxer he becomes, the Cobh man will always remain grounded thanks to his upbringing in Cork.

Walsh has worked as a fisherman, six days a week in his hometown Cobh before he relocated to Los Angeles to pursue his dream of becoming of becoming a boxing world champion.

However, most of Walsh's professional bouts have taken place with Hollywood Fight Nights, a promotion that is aired on UFC Fight Pass. 

Walsh has also formed a good working relationship with UFC boss Dana White, who is now one of his main sponsors and biggest supporters.

The 25 year-old Walsh was a six-time Irish national champion in his youth, but his fighting career came to a standstill when Covid-19 closed down his local boxing gym. 

He was preparing for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics when the pandemic hit and everything was put on hold.

The youngster then decided to jet off to California to live with his father Lee and to train at the Wildcard Boxing Gym and quickly struck up a relationship with world-renowned trainer Freddie Roach.

“I was training very hard for the Olympics and working six days a week hauling pots on a fishing boat at home seven years ago, however, Covid struck and everything was put on hold,” Callum said.

“I then decided to visit my father to continue my training and ended up sleeping on his couch in Long Beach.

"I went back to Freddie Roach’s gym and asked if I could train, however, Freddie looked at me and said, 'this is Wednesday, and Wednesdays are sparring days, so If you want to train here, you have to spar.' 

"So I said, certainly and I went in and sparred six rounds with one of the pros.

"Freddie was impressed with what he saw in me, and that was the start of my journey with him.

“However, there's more, a lot more to my story. 

"Tom Loeffler, who promoted long-time middleweight champion Gennadiy Golovkin and world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko is now also working with me. 

"He got involved with me after a conversation with Freddie, who recommended me to him. 

"Then in December 2021, I made my professional debut in California and knocked out Early Henry in just over 90 seconds in a room filled with screaming Irish fans, so Loeffler needed no more convincing.

“It's hard, though, to build a young fighter without a broadcast deal and Loeffler had a meeting scheduled with Dana White in Las Vegas to discuss a streaming deal on UFC Fight Pass and decided to bring me along."

White had for several years looked at a way to get involved in boxing, and had actually created Zuffa Boxing roughly at the time Conor McGregor and Floyd Mayweather were preparing to fight in 2017.

“So, I went along with Tom to meet Dana, but he was more interested in hearing about my amateur career, and although I had only one pro fight, White was sold on me and jumped on board.

“I've been very lucky to have five years of learning from Freddie, and the fact that I have had close to 120 amateur fights.

"I had my amateur style that saw me win six national titles, my European gold medal, and then, going into his gym to learn the pro style from him has helped me greatly as my career moves onwards and upwards.

"I've two different styles now. 

"I can box if I have to, or I can stand and fight. 

"The amount of knowledge that Freddie has is unbelievable, and I'm still learning every single day with him and the other coaches are still showing me new things all the time."

Behind every successful man there is always a special woman, and that is certainly the case with Callum.

He met the love of his life, Brazilian UFC fighter Tabatha Ricci after one of his fights. 

They went to dinner where she introduced him to Sushi and it was the first time Walsh eat raw fish.

Walsh and Tabatha, have made a great life for themselves in LA.

They have moved from the hustle and bustle of Hollywood to a ranch in the coastal city of Ventura, around 100kms away, where they have animals, including goats, pigs, miniature highland cows, donkeys and chickens.

"I had to move out of Hollywood with Tabatha as it was too much for me to be honest. 

"Being from Cork, coming over to Hollywood, is a bit much.

“On the farming side of things, it gives me a good balance to my life, as I love waking up early to care for the animals and handle all the physical chores that keeps me level-headed.

“I do most of the work on the ranch myself, but I do bring in a lad for a few days to help me out if needed, especially when I am in camp.

“I now train in the Pacquiao Prime Boxing Gym in Hollywood and it is great to go train there, then get in my car to come home to the peace and quiet to chill out with Tabitha. 

"It’s the perfect place for me for some head space and the beauty of it all is that we can do our road work together on the ranch."

Ahead of his fight last Saturday night, Walsh returned to his old club in Riverstown for a week to training before heading up to Dublin. 

He also brought his team and girlfriend to his hometown in Cobh to see the sights and visit his grandmother Kay for a welcome cup of tea.

And while the working in the gym with his coaches Marvin Somodio and Dicky Eklund Jr was serious, there was great banter and fun between Walsh, Tabatha, his team and his old coaches.

There is an old saying in Cork, You can take the boy out of Cork, but you can’t take the Cork out of the boy and that was certainly the case when I visited Callum at Riverstown with his quick since of humour very evident.

“One of my coaches down in Riverstown is an ice-cream man and he brought his van to the gym to made all the boys 99 ice creams, and when I asked for one, my strength and conditioning coach Alex Jamora responded with a strong NO. 

"I was looking at everyone eating the ice creams, however, when one of my former coaches just started to eat his treat, he got brain freeze, so I quickly said 'it shows how small your brain is when you got brain freeze after two mouth fulls,' for everyone in the gym to begin laughing in hysteric laughter.

“I've always had great relationships with my all coaches, especially Brian Barry from Riverstown. 

"He and myself would go to all my fights when I was younger.

"I remember us at the All-Irelands in Dublin, we'd do weigh in, have some food, the boys might have a pint.

“However, that was always a special time in my life as all of them made a huge impact on me and every time I come back home I make sure that I get down to met everyone,” Walsh added.

But a Cork homecoming remains a huge aim for the Cobh native and there has been talks of an big event in the near future and with Steven Cairns, Cathal Crowley, Christina Desmond, Tommy Hyde all making great strides in the pro game, a big local card could be a definite possibility with the Marquee, Turner’s Cross, Virgin Media Park, or Pàirc Uì Rinn, all venues that could hold the event.