Liam Walsh (21-0) will battle in front of his own boxing idol this weekend. The presence of Floyd Mayweather Jr may cause nerves and some anxiety among younger fighters but the 30-year old isn’t shook.
“I don’t find Floyd Mayweather’s presence off-putting at all. Floyd’s just another man, flesh and bones, like the rest of us. I admire him as a fighter and what he achieved in boxing, but outside of the ring him being on the team doesn’t bother me whatsoever,” stated Walsh in an interview with ESPN.
Walsh is facing a highly touted prospect in Gervonta Davis (17-0) this Saturday at the Copper Box Arena in London. ‘Tank’ has sixteen knockout’s and possesses the skills to become a legitimate threat in the super featherweight division. Many believe he is on a totally different level than his upcoming foe and that he will steamroll through the Briton. Walsh has other plans.
“He’s going to be confident. He has just won a world title so he is going to be on top of the world. He has got Floyd backing him, so he is going to be super confident. But I totally disagree with his comment that he’s on a different level and I’m going to be there on May 20 to prove it wrong,” told Walsh.
So far Mayweather and Davis are doing most of the talking which should not come as a surprise to anyone. Walsh has been in the game long enough to know that it is just talk and nothing more.
“He’s young and 22. I made decisions at 22 I’d never have made at the age I am now. I’ve been a pro nine years now so I’m used to people talking in the build-up to fights. Davis is very comfortable with the media. I’m comfortable with it, it’s just I’d rather do my talking in the ring and save my energy for that,” explained Walsh.