NEW YORK – Callum Walsh confirmed that he may battle by means of some severe adversity and win a canine battle Thursday evening.
The sturdy southpaw from Eire withstood an actual problem from stay, sturdy underdog Ismael Villarreal and defeated the hometown boxer by unanimous resolution in an entertaining primary occasion of a seven-bout card at a sold-out Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard.
Villarreal was credited with a knockdown with simply over two minutes remaining within the tenth spherical. Walsh appeared extra fatigued than harm when he obtained up and Villarreal couldn’t put him down once more earlier than the ultimate bell rang.
An aggressive Villarreal did drill Walsh with two extra arduous proper palms earlier than the tip of their bout, nevertheless it wasn’t sufficient to win. Walsh gained 97-92, 97-92 and 96-93 on the scorecards.
Walsh, 22, improved to 9-0, however he was taken the space for simply the second time. Cork’s Walsh went previous the sixth spherical for the primary time in a professional profession that started almost two years in the past.
Villarreal, 26, misplaced for simply the second time in almost six years as a professional, however the Bronx native nonetheless hasn’t been knocked out in 15 skilled fights (13-2, 9 KOs). His first defeat was a intently contested, split-decision loss to Ardreal Holmes Jr. (14-0, 5 KOs) on February 17 in Topeka, Kansas.
A proper hook by Walsh knocked Villarreal off steadiness with about 45 seconds to go within the ninth spherical. Walsh unloaded two mixtures late within the ninth spherical, however Villarreal waved him ahead.
Walsh drilled Villarreal with a straight left as the tip of the eighth spherical neared. Walsh was the extra correct fighter for many of that eighth spherical, when he made Villarreal miss with a lot of his photographs.
Villarreal and Walsh blasted one another with energy photographs when there was simply over 30 seconds to go in an action-packed seventh spherical.
Villarreal and Walsh each landed arduous photographs because the sixth spherical drew to an in depth. An aggressive Walsh unloaded together through the center minute of the sixth spherical.
Walsh went to the touch gloves after an unintentional conflict of heads about 30 seconds into the sixth spherical, however Villarreal promptly punched him within the face.
A flush proper by Villarreal landed with beneath 20 seconds to go within the fifth spherical, however Walsh took it properly. A proper uppercut by Walsh related about 30 seconds into the fifth spherical.
Villarreal hit Walsh low with lower than 10 seconds to go within the fourth spherical, which brought on a quick break within the motion.
A brief proper hook by Walsh made Villarreal stumble within the remaining minute of the fourth spherical. He unleashed a flurry to attempt to capitalize on that momentum, however Villarreal tied him up.
Again-to-back left hooks by Villarreal backed up Walsh virtually a minute into the fourth spherical.
Two straight rights by Villarreal backed up Walsh within the remaining minute of the third spherical. Walsh wished to change a number of seconds later, although, and traded arduous photographs with Villarreal till the third spherical ended.
Walsh quickly stopped punching and tied up Villarreal halfway by means of the third spherical.
Walsh’s proper hook related once more as Villarreal got here ahead a minute into the third spherical.
A straight left by Walsh shocked Villarreal a number of seconds earlier than the second spherical ended and backed him into the ropes. Walsh rocked Villarreal with a proper hook that was a part of a mix he landed halfway by means of the second spherical.
A straight left by Walsh nailed Villarreal and made him stumble lower than 10 seconds into the second spherical.
Walsh drilled Villarreal with a left hand that made him reset his toes with slightly below a minute to go within the first spherical. Walsh landed a proper hook to Villarreal’s physique lower than a minute into the opening spherical.
Keith Idec is a senior author/columnist for BoxingScene.com. He will be reached on Twitter @Idecboxing.
