Callum Walsh fight stopped by doctor as Irishman suffers bad cut
Callum Walsh has moved to 14-0 as a professional after his bout with Elias Espadas was stopped by the doctor due to a bad cut suffered by the Irishman following an accidental headbutt.
The head collision came less than a minute into the second round of the super-welterweight contest and caused blood to pour into the 24-year-old's eye. The doctor checked the cut at the start of both the third and fourth rounds and allowed the bout to continue.
However, he stopped the contest in the fifth, with Walsh winning by technical decision after all three judges scored the bout 50-46 in his favour as he successfully defended his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title.
The Cork southpaw dominated the contest against the Mexican (now 23-7-1), showing his slick skills throughout as he targeted the head and body, landing powerful lefts at times, as well as displaying his good movement, particularly before suffering the cut.
Walsh believed it was 'growing into a very good fight' when the contest was stopped as he revealed his disappointment in the bout ending in such a way.
He said: "First of all, I want to apologise to everybody that paid to come and see me fight. There were some good fights tonight, so at least you still got to see some action. I'm very disappointed to win a fight like this.
"I think it was growing into a very good fight. Both of us were enjoying it. We were enjoying putting on a show for the fans.
"And yeah, just apologies to everybody. I don't know, it's not the best way to win, but I'm sorry. I'll put on a show again for you, definitely."
He added: "I felt like the fight was very one-sided. I think it was going my way. I think it was going to continue going my way.
"He's a very good opponent, but it's unfortunate. It impacted my vision. I couldn't really see so it kind of was impacting my fight.
"But I still think I did enough and I want to continue to do enough. But it is what it is."
Walsh will hope that the cut doesn't keep him sidelined for too long as he targets a fight on the huge Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford card in Las Vegas this September.
The event is being promoted by UFC CEO Dana White, who financially backs Walsh, with the Freddie Roach-trained fighter's bouts being shown on UFC Fight Pass. Walsh called out fellow undefeated star Fernando Vargas Jr (17-0) following his latest win.
"Fernando Vargas, if you want this belt, come get it, kid," he said. "Dana White's promoting Canelo vs Crawford. Let's do it. You keep calling my name. If you want this, come get it."
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