Callum Walsh concentrates on ring for now while eyeing place in the octagon

Has life in Hollywood gone to Callum Walsh’s head? In a place long-known for blonde bombshells, Walsh – with his peroxide-infused thatch – is making a name for himself as more of a blonde bomber.

The 22-year-old from Cobh has won seven of his first eight fights in the professional ranks via knockout and the undefeated prospect, who fights out of Freddie Roach’s famous Wild Card Boxing gym on Vine Street just off Sunset Boulevard, is gearing up for the biggest bout of his life at Madison Square Garden on Thursday.

'Bronx Beast' Ismael Villarreal (13-1, 9 KOs) lies in wait, as the man who goes by the moniker of 'King’ makes the second defence of his WBC US Silver Super Welterweight title in the main event over 10 rounds.

Just two days later, UFC 295 takes place at the iconic venue, and Walsh will have an invested onlooker watching his fight in the form of Dana White.

The UFC’s head honcho had been looking to become involved with a boxer for some time. A close relationship with 360 Promotions’ Tom Loeffler and Walsh’s early promise piqued White’s interest to such a degree that the County Cork man was offered an endorsement deal with the 'flavoured whiskey partner' of the UFC, while his fights are now broadcast on UFC Fight Pass.

When the fighter tells you that boxing is the priority "right now", it’s a proviso that rings out loudly, and Walsh can’t disguise the lure of the octagon sometime in the future.

The boxing career got off to an inauspicious start, as Walsh told RTÉ Sport, although it proved nothing more than a blip in a stellar junior career.

"I started boxing when I was six years old and it was all I knew – go to the gym, train, fight, and when I turned 11 I had my first fight.

"Funnily enough, I actually lost my first