Callum Walsh questions boxing's obsession with unbeaten records

Michael Bolton

On the biggest boxing card of the year, Irish eyes will be on Callum Walsh, as he fights in the co-main event of Canelo Alvarez v Terrance Crawford.

The Cork boxer will take on fellow unbeaten Fernando Vargas Jr in Las Vegas in the Super Welterweight division on September 13th.

A fight also shown on Netflix, Walsh took the path less travelled to start off his professional career, moving to the US to start his career.

However, with Walsh now having the world's eyes on him, he can see his hard work paying off.

"It is crazy to be the co-main event of this card, it is such an honour. To represent Ireland on this stage is crazy.

"I am really looking forward to it. It goes both ways; you have all these people watching, but you also have all these people you could lose in front of.

"Staying focused, going out there and getting the job done, not thinking of the occasion and not the number of people watching, are very important to me.

"Once my hand is raised, then that is when I can take it all in and look around and say I did it. That is when I can enjoy it."

Backed by  UFC CEO Dana White, a fight between two unbeaten young highly talented fighters has the UFC written all over it.

Trained by Freddie Roach, Walsh has never shied away from the biggest challenges. Not one to face lower-rated opponents to boost his record, Walsh believes Dana White can "fix" boxing.

The Cork man has also questioned the value of being unbeaten in boxing, using UFC champions who have losses on their record but still gain massive support.

"It is exactly how Dana White can fix boxing. At the end of the day, boxing is so caught up with this 50-0 type of stuff, where you have to be undefeated to be a good fighter.

"There are UFC champions with five or six losses, everybody loves them and nobody cares. I think boxing has gone too far into this, you have to be undefeated kind of thing.

"We are two young, undefeated fighters. A loss here should not affect your career drastically. It should be a case of you took a chance against another undefeated fighter.

"If you lose, it shouldn't really make a difference. You should still be able to get back in there and fight. I think this is definitely Dana White's vision: make good fights for the fans, and not really have this undefeated thing."

All of Walsh's focus is currently on September 13th, but it is clear the future is bright for the 24-year-old.

A win against Vargas Jr would put him in a great position for the future, with a world title shot and even a homecoming bout in Cork on the horizon.

"At the moment, it is definitely one fight at a time.

"I definitely think it will be soon. I am heading in the right direction.

"That is a goal of mine. Maybe next summer, try to get back to Cork and put on a big show for the people in Ireland.

"I hope to get back to Cork in the summer of next year."