The following massive tremendous battle at Madison Sq. Backyard would add to the Puerto Rican vs Eire rivalry — that includes two of New York Metropolis’s most passionate boxing fan-bases. It even has “shades of Amanda Serrano vs Katie Taylor,” who fought a Struggle of the Yr in April 2022.
That’s based on 360 Promotions founder Tom Loeffler, who spoke Wednesday to World Boxing Information about his fast-rising tremendous welterweight Callum Walsh, and the potential for combating fast-rising Prime Rank contender Xander Zayas down the road.
Walsh has an absurd wealth of energy surrounding him as he’s repped by Loeffler, educated by Freddie Roach on the Wildcard Boxing Membership in Los Angeles, and has the help of Dana White.
World Boxing Information has been across the UFC boss White quite a few instances during the last three years, and have continuously spoken to him about Walsh.
White as soon as instructed us lately that one factor he likes most about Loeffler is his matchmaking, and that he can simply envision Walsh difficult for a world championship belt inside a yr.
“That’s a very good timeframe,” Loeffler stated this week, after we requested him about White’s hopes for Walsh.
Loeffler talked about Zayas to us late, final yr, after we visited him and Walsh on the Wildcard in Hollywood. At the moment, Walsh — who not often watches fights, or tape of his opponents — was unaware of who Zayas is.
Nevertheless, as the potential battle gathers momentum, with a number of officers at Prime Rank keen about working with Loeffler to guide the bout, Walsh is now effectively conscious of who Zayas is.
“The upper I am going by way of the ranks, the extra tape I watch to make it simpler for myself [on the night of a fight],” Walsh instructed World Boxing Information this week.
“Since Tom talked about that battle, Xander’s fought a man I’ve sparred with on the Wildcard. In a yr or so, that’s the battle to make, because it’s two younger and undefeated fighters. It needs to be within the massive enviornment at Madison Sq. Backyard,” stated Walsh. “Make some cash.”
Earlier than Walsh can entertain combating Zayas in entrance of a sell-out crowd at Madison Sq. Backyard, he should first dispatch Carlos Ortiz, a knockout puncher whom he fights June 7 on the Chumash On line casino in Santa Ynez, California, on UFC Struggle Move.
Coincidentally, although, Xander Zayas fights Patrick Teixeira, a former world champion, the next night June 8 on the Madison Sq. Backyard Theater in New York.
The celebrities are seemingly aligning to maintain these two younger fighters within the headlines collectively.
When speaking to World Boxing Information about the potential for working with 360 Promotions for a Zayas vs Walsh present, Prime Rank VP of Boxing Operations Carl Moretti stated that his agency is aware of who Walsh is, “and we’re effectively conscious of him.”
Moretti instructed us that, whereas they’re seeking to safe a world title battle first, a bout involving Walsh is one thing they “will surely welcome.”
Zayas himself instructed us late final yr that it’s a battle that may “positively” occur “sooner or later.” His supervisor, Peter Khan, additionally waxed lyrical over Walsh, and stated there are clear comparisons between the trajectory of the UFC boxer and his shopper, Zayas. “He’s very a lot on the identical path as Xander.”
Moretti, in the meantime, added that these at Prime Rank “love the battle.”
He stated: “It could be an ideal attraction in New York — no query. You can actually put it at Madison Sq. Backyard with a powerful undercard with fighters who’re standard in New York. However, you understand, you must make the battle first, and fear in regards to the undercard after. We’re not even at that time, proper now.
“If we get Xander a title battle first, he’s actually going to seize it. I don’t know what title he would go after, after which, ought to he be victorious, Callum Walsh could be a worthy challenger. If that time frame doesn’t work, then you may do the Walsh battle earlier than that.”
For Loeffler, Walsh has already “claimed New York Metropolis as his second dwelling.”
However once you add the St. Patrick’s Day help Walsh generated for his battle towards Dauren Yeleussinov on March 15, and mix it with the Puerto Rican followers Zayas has, then you might have, what Loeffler calls, the likelihood for a “enormous” occasion. It’s “an enviornment battle,” he instructed us.
“Prime Rank is fairly excessive on Xander, and doing a very good job advertising him to Puerto Rican followers at occasions,” Loeffler stated.
“I believe that is going to be a kind of pure Puerto Rico vs Eire kind of fights, with shades of Serrano vs Taylor,” he added.
“If Zayas and Walsh keep on the identical monitor, it’s a very marketable battle.”
Alan Dawson is World Boxing Information Lead Author, a 2 x Sports activities Journalist of the Yr finalist, and 5 x BWAA awards winner. Observe Alan @AlanDawsonSport.
