Callum Walsh has more than proven himself to legendary trainer Freddie Roach since the day he arrived at the famed Wild Card Boxing Club in Hollywood during the heart of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The exciting Irishman realizes however, he hasn’t quite convinced the boxing public that he is a legitimate junior middleweight contender. That, Walsh assured The Ring, is the mission he hopes to complete in 2025.

Walsh will box for the first time this year March 16 in New York. The Cork-born California resident is scheduled to headline a UFC Fight Pass card that night against Scottish southpaw Dean Sutherland in The Theater at Madison Square Garden.

Sutherland (19-1, 7 KOs) is aggressive, though not the puncher Walsh (12-0, 10 KOs) has demonstrated against a largely low level of opposition. Walsh wants to prove the night before St. Patrick’s Day that he is more than ready for further imposing opponents later this year.

“Every day I’m getting better,” Walsh said Tuesday, following a press conference in Manhattan. “I’m getting older and I feel like this is the year. I’m gonna be 24 next month. Right now, I feel I’m at the verge of prospect slash contender. This is the year where I really wanna get my name out there as a legit contender and be in position by the end of this year to take on big fights and really get towards that world title.”

There is plenty of pressure on Walsh because he carries the burden of becoming boxing’s next star from Ireland.

He scored a second-round knockout of Poland’s Przemyslaw Runowski (22-3-1, 6 KOs) in his last outing, which took place September 20 at Dublin's 3Arena. Runowski lost only a pair of 10-round unanimous decisions to Brits Josh Kelly (16-1-1, 8 KOs) and Michael McKinson (27-2, 4 KOs) before Walsh dropped and stopped him.

“I’m a very proud Irishman,” Walsh said. “You know, I represent my country every time I fight. I don’t just do this for myself – I do it for my family, friends and the country of Ireland. I really want to put us back on the map, you know, as being some of the best fighters in the world. I feel like it’s the perfect time for me. I feel like Ireland’s looking for that next one. I feel like that could be me if I keep putting on these performances and keep getting the wins.”