Results and Recaps from Dublin where Callum Walsh had a Sensational Homecoming

A raucous sold-out Irish crowd saw Callum “King” Walsh return to native soil and quickly decimate Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski by knockout to retain a regional title in Dublin, Ireland on Thursday.

“Once you get hit by me, game over,” said Walsh.

Walsh (12-0, 10 KOs) showed more than 8,000 fans in Ireland why he is highly ranked as a super welterweight with a two-round knockout of Runowski (22-3-1, 6 KOs) at the 3Arena Dublin.

It was Walsh’s first pro fight in Ireland.

On a 360 Promotion fight card that featured mostly native Irish fighters, it was Walsh who fans paid to see after reading about his exploits in the USA. Led by world class trainer Freddie Roach, the native Irish super welterweight walked into the arena to a loud roar.

After introductions, a calm but stern Walsh went to work against the veteran Polish fighter who had never been knocked out in a pro fight in 25 pro bouts.

The southpaw Walsh went to work stoically with right hook body shots and connected with a long left cross that buckled the Polish fighter in the first round. It was evident that the bleached-blonde fighter’s power was real.

In the second round Runowski was intent on gaining respect from Walsh. He fired his own blows and Walsh fired back. During a quick exchange Walsh connected with a right hook and a left. Down went Runowski from the blast and the referee counted to 10.

It was over at 2:06 of the second round.

“He had never been stopped until he got hit my me,” Walsh said following the stoppage. “I just hit too hard.”

The native of Cork, Ireland also said that his mentor, Dana White of UFC, wants to do future fight cards in Ireland, that had not seen boxing for several years until recently.

“Dana said we’re coming back. This sealed the deal,” said Walsh. “We’ll bring this Irish crowd and we’ll take over the world.”

Other Bouts

Ali Akhmedov (22-1, 16 KOs) managed to eke out a split-decision win over France’s Pierre Dibombe (22-2-1, 12 KOs) after 10 rounds in a super middleweight fight. Despite a knockdown in the eighth round, Akhmedov rallied to a win.

Irish Olympian Emmett Brennan (4-0) won by split decision over Kevin Cronin (8-2-1) in a very close inside super middleweight fight.

Heavyweight Thomas Carty (9-0, 8 KOs) knocked down Jonathan Vergara (6-2) twice with body shots before ending the fight by knockout with a left to the head at 2:59 of the second round.

“When I start putting my combinations together people hit the deck,” Carty said.

An entertaining Irish super welterweight title fight saw Craig O’Brien (15-3) out-punch Edward Donovan (7-1) to win a technical split decision after six rounds of a scheduled eight round fight. A cut over Donovan’s eye forced a premature decision.

In a female lightweight fight, Ireland’s Shauna O’Keefe (3-0, 2 KOs) won by knockout over Iceland’s very tough Valgerdur Gudstensdottir (7-6) in the fourth round. The southpaw O’Keefe showed strong and accurate two-fisted punching and ended the match at 1:45 of the fourth round.

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