NEW YORK CITY – The fastest rising star in boxing, “King” Callum Walsh, will make his New York debut on one of boxing’s biggest stages, The Theater at Madison Square Garden. The 10-round main event on Thursday, November 9 will be broadcast globally on UFC Fight Pass, which is also making its Garden debut for boxing. Ranked No. 16 by the World Boxing Council, the native of Cork, Ireland returns to battle following a fourth-round stoppage of veteran Juan Jose Velasco in Los Angeles, California.
Presented by Tom Loeffler’s 360 Promotions, the highly touted 22-year-old Walsh (8-0, 7 KOs) will make the second defense of his WBC U.S. silver super welterweight title, against Ismael Villarreal (13-1, 9 KOs), from Bronx, New York. On Sept. 20, Villarreal defeated John Martinez (19-3, 16 KOs) via TKO, ending the Miami fighter’s four-year, eight-fight winning streak. Villarreal scored three knockdowns in round 2, forcing the referee to end the fight with two seconds remaining in the round. The combined record of Villarreal’s last six opponents when he fought them was 93-19 – a winning percentage of 83 percent.
Tickets to the Walsh-Villarreal super welterweight title event at The Garden are on sale now. Tickets priced at $205, $155, $55, and $35, are available now and can be purchased online at MSG.com or at the Madison Square Garden box office and via Ticketmaster locations.
“Every fighter aspires to fight at Madison Square Garden,” said the Freddie Roach-trained southpaw. “It’s a big combat sports week and a dream come true to fight at ‘The Mecca of Boxing’ in New York City ahead of UFC 295. I can’t wait to put on a great show for the fans and my Irish compatriots.”
“For Callum to be making his Garden debut is a testament to his hard work and talent,” said Walsh’s Hall of Fame trainer Freddie Roach. “But to be the headliner, in just his ninth pro fight, and during this special week, that is a ringing endorsement from The Garden executives. Villarreal is another big test for Callum. Callum wouldn’t have it any other way.”
“My dream is to be a world boxing champion and to achieve it I have to eliminate all the obstacles that come my way and Callum Walsh will be no exception,” said Villarreal. “I will be happy to do it in New York in front of my fans, in the city where I was born and have lived all my life. I know that this victory will open the doors for me to compete in a world championship no later than 2024. On November 9, the boxing world will know who Ismael ‘Maelo’ Villarreal is.”
“I couldn’t be happier for Ismael Villarreal in getting this opportunity to headline at the Garden, it’s every fighter’s dream growing up in New York,” said Kathy Duva, Villarreal’s Hall of Fame promoter. “He has worked incredibly hard to get to this point, accepted every fight that has been offered to him, and now has a chance to prove that he is a legitimate player at 154 pounds. I want to thank 360 Promotions and UFC Fight Pass for this opportunity, and I have no doubt that this will be a very entertaining fight.”
Tom Loeffler has promoted numerous sold-out events at Madison Square Garden including memorable evenings headlined by middleweight icon Gennadiy “GGG” Golovkin and heavyweight champions Vitali and Wladimir Klitschko.
“Fighting at Madison Square Garden is a huge step for every future superstar in boxing,” said Tom Loeffler. “Callum draws sold-out, celebrity-filled crowds to his events in Los Angeles and we’re expecting another tremendous evening for his New York debut at The Garden.
“Dana White and his team at the UFC continue to be tremendous partners for the growth of Callum and we’re very excited to be part of their tremendous week at Madison Square Garden.”
