As an amateur Ryan Walsh felt inferior to his brothers, Liam and Michael. Now, at 33-years-old, British champion Walsh argues he’s only just coming into his prime.
This Friday, Walsh will defend his British featherweight championship against Scotland’s Lewis Paulin. Defending his Lonsdale belt has become “strangely familiar,” said Walsh.
“At 33 a featherweight should be good and finished and ready to put his slippers on, but that’s on average,” said Walsh. “I didn’t come into professional boxing until I was 22. I’d had under 30 amateur bouts too. In that way I was a novice. More than anything, I’m very lucky to be with a couple of brothers who were very, very good. They started a bit younger than me and they’ve brought me on.”
The three Walsh brothers, Ryan, Liam and Michael, are a tight-knit trio. All three have boxed professionally, though Michael hasn’t fought since 2015.
“Michael will tell you too, it used to be the three of us but now it’s mainly me and Liam,” said Ryan. “He’ll still put the gloves on with me and Liam at the drop of a hat though.
“We’ve got Graham Everett and Manuel Provedano who’s in Tenerife – they’re the trainers. But they’ll tell you that me and my twin brother Liam have a unique situation. As much as I love Graham and Manuel and they do our pads and things, I run with Liam, I eat with Liam, I train with Liam. The only thing we don’t do is top and tail, which we used to when we were kids. “
Walsh seems distinctly un-worried about his latest challenger. Scotsman Lewis Paulin has one reasonably high-profile win on his record. He handed Edinburgh’s Stephen Tiffney his first loss in their Scottish title bout, but hasn’t operated at Walsh’s level.
Previously Walsh operated as a free agent, as far as promotion was concerned, but now he’s joined his brother in signing with MTK Global. His title defence is part of their York Hall show this Friday.
“A free agent? I like to say I was a mercenary!” said Walsh. “Have gloves, will travel, just be fair! Now though, joining MTK has definitely given me a new freedom and stability.
“There’s a part of me that wishes that two years ago, when Liam was where he was after that fight, that we’d reached out to MTK then. I’m pretty sure we don’t help ourselves sometimes. It doesn’t pay to look back and say ‘coulda, woulda, shoulda’ though. I don’t like that.
“I think if I’d have joined MTK I would have fought for bigger titles by now though, that’s what they’re good at. You only have to look at their record. They’re very good at getting their fighters in positions and that’s all you can ask in this business. That’s the way this business works.”
Prime or no prime, Britain’s featherweight King has big ambitions. His dream fight would be against the USA’s Gary Russell Jr.
“Who wants to fight him?” said Walsh.
“He’s like lightning. He’s the best featherweight on the planet. To be the best nine stone man on the planet you have to beat Gary Russell Jr. I’m 33 years old. All I want to know is how good I am. I’d like to fight the best. The very best. Then at least I’ll know.”
Though not quite Gary Russell Jr., the unbeaten Scot Lewis Paulin will be looking to nip in the bud any big dreams of fantasy fights come Friday night. Walsh though, for his part, is chock full of confidence that he will not only win, but win well, and entertain his loyal following ‘the Farmy Army’.