Walsh out to make it as a professional (From Your Local Guardian)

Walsh out to make it as a professional

5:28pm Thursday 22nd March 2012 in Boxing By James Haggis

Waddon boxer Joe Ryan Walsh is out to make waves in the boxing world after turning professional late last year.

The 26-year-old has boxed on and off since he was 15, but was more interested in rugby until he left the parachute regiment of the army.

It was then that he turned his attentions toward the ring having cut his boxing teeth in the army, where he had a record of nine wins from 10 fights.

Since going professional, the light middleweight has had two fights, losing his first against Luke Blackledge by knock out in October but winning his second against Scott Woods on points last month.

“Boxing has taken over in the last two years as I lost the love for rugby,” said Walsh “There is a lot more venom in the shots among the professionals and people set their feet and take their time.

“The amateurs want to get a knock out, but in the professionals everyone knows what they are doing and things are not done with a hot head.

“My second fight felt a lot better than the first one.

“I had a lot of people come to watch me and the missus was in the crowd too. I got there and the pressure felt good.

“I train like a pro, I train like I am on the Mayweather money even though I’m not.

“I am going to take one fight at a time and keep training hard.”