Callum Walsh won a 10-round decision over Tyler Denny tonight in Dublin, but the performance did little to suggest he is ready for the leading middleweights.
Walsh (17-0, 11 KOs) won by scores of 98-91, 98-91 and 96-90 at the 3Arena. Those numbers made the fight look far easier than it was. Denny (21-5-3, 1 KO) gave the 25-year-old problems throughout with his awkward southpaw style and pressure.
Walsh is receiving a major promotional push from Dana White and Zuffa Boxing, which makes performances like this worth examining closely. Denny has one knockout in 29 professional fights and, despite previously winning the European title, isn’t among the division’s leading fighters. Walsh should be separating himself from this level of opposition if a world-level move is coming soon.
Denny dropped Walsh in the opening round during an unusual exchange at close range. Walsh was ducking low while seemingly anticipating a break, but Denny continued punching and the referee ruled it a knockdown.
Walsh responded in the second, flooring Denny with a well-timed left hand. He used his superior speed, reach and cleaner straight punches to win rounds after that, but he never turned the fight into the dominant homecoming performance his supporters might have anticipated.
The eighth became particularly untidy. Walsh was docked a point for holding before Denny lost one for hitting behind the head.
Denny was still giving Walsh trouble late. He pressured him during a strong ninth round and opened a cut near Walsh’s left eye, forcing Walsh through another difficult stretch before the final bell.
Walsh deserved the decision. The bigger issue was how hard Denny made him work to get it.
Dana White clearly sees considerable potential in Walsh, and at 25 there is still time for Freddie Roach and the Wild Card team to develop him. Tonight showed the distance between beating an experienced former European champion and competing with the best middleweights.
Moving Walsh rapidly toward that level after this performance would be a significant gamble.