Callum Walsh is a dreamer just like everyone else and when his head hits the pillow at night, visions of a packed Páirc Uí Chaoimh fill his thoughts.
The 24-year-old admits that he'd need to pick up a few notable W's before that became even a remote possibility, but it's 30 years from that night in Millstreet so a good anniversary to remind people of the ferocity that the sport can bring to the Rebel County.
This is a fighter too, whose path is crossing regularly with high-profile names like Jake Paul, Dana White and iconic trainer Freddie Roach, who was in the corner of Steve Collins during that famed battle with Chris Eubank on Leeside.
For the initiated, the 2017 European Junior gold medallist is one of the brightest prospects in Irish boxing right now and with that comes the honour of topping the St Patrick’s weekend card at Madison Square Garden, as he puts his Continental Americas Super Welterweight title on the line against Aberdeen’s 19-1 fighter Dean Sutherland.
For the uninitiated, seeing White shadow Walsh and the fact that his bouts are screened by UFC Fight Pass may cross the streams enough to cause some confusion – and the mention of the octagon does bring a sparkle to the youngster’s eye.
"Tom brought me to meet Dana and Dana and Freddie have a very good relationship too so they obviously talked and Freddie told him that I was a good fighter, that I was legit. I wasn’t just some random Irish fighter.
"Dana saw me fight a couple of times and then came on board with his Howler Head whiskey sponsorship. The more I fought, the more I got better as a pro; he talked to Freddie and he wants to help me get the world title shot.
"He’s been a massive help to my career, having someone like that behind you can make a big difference.
"The show in Dublin (against Przemyslaw Runowski) was basically a UFC event. It was all UFC staff and it was like UFC and 360 Promotions collaborating.
"It was run exactly like UFC and I think that’s why it did so well. Any UFC event I have been to is so organised, it’s very well done. Sometimes boxing can get out of control or you’re sitting there and the fights are boring and you’re just waiting for the main event.
"This was very organised, from the very first fight of the night to the main event, it was good fights the whole way through. The crowd was enjoying it."
"I think I’m such a big fan of the UFC, I’ve been a big fan for my whole life, I watched it so much and being so close to it now, I couldn’t go my whole career without ever fighting in it at least once," Walsh added of his combat ambitions.
"It’s just something I’ve wanted to do, something on my bucket list, I’d love to have a fight and obviously if I was going to do it I would be finished with my boxing career.
"That would be done and I’d have accomplished everything I wanted to, or tried to at least, in boxing. 'Right I’ve done all I can in boxing, I’ll train properly and I’ll give this a go’ – it would be something I’d take very seriously. I wouldn’t just do it for the craic; I wouldn’t just jump in there and look bad."
That particular fire can safely simmer away in the back of Walsh’s mind.
That’s for then, now is all about the Garden and what he says is "the biggest Irish card in New York history".
Millstreet was 30 years ago, but 20 years ago Irish boxing had its most notable result ever on American soil as 'Clones Colossus' Kevin McBride cut the legs of Mike Tyson’s comeback in one of the sport’s greatest shocks.
'Iron Mike’ has had one sanctioned fight since, the farcical loss to Jake Paul last November. In the meantime, Walsh has been caught in Paul’s crossfire as he called him "that useless Irish boxer" whilst laying into White’s record as a boxing promoter.
"You know where I am," was Walsh's succinct response on social media.
The Cobh native is clearly seeping into the American boxing consciousness and he is hoping that a number of other Irish fighters on the card, which includes Feargal McCrory, Emmet Brennan, Kevin Cronin, Thomas Carty and Donagh Keary, take advantage of such an obvious spotlight.
"I can’t wait, with the card that we’re putting on, a massive Irish card and the fact that I’m able to headline this on St Patrick’s weekend in Madison Square Garden…this is my third time headlining there and I’m only 24 years old.
"To be able to headline Madison Square Garden three times and now on a massive Irish card is a crazy feeling.
"This is the biggest Irish card in New York history and I’m very proud, not just for myself, but to give the opportunity to other Irish fighters to fight in New York.
"This is not about me fighting, it’s about putting on big Irish cards and giving opportunities to others, we even have pro debuts (Keary), young Irish lads making their pro debuts in Madison Square Garden.
"New York, basically a second Ireland, New York might as well be another county," added Walsh, who thrilled on homecoming against Runowski at the 3Arena last September.
"Who knows, maybe we’ll go back to Cork or back to Ireland somewhere. My goal would be to go back to Cork, have another couple of fights over here maybe and keep building the Irish boxing scene and go back and put on an even bigger card in Cork hopefully. "
While Tyson said he would "gut (McBride) like a fish", Sutherland has chosen less dramatic words to predict that he is good enough to win. A simple message of his best is better than Walsh’s.
On paper, it’s undoubtedly his toughest opponent, even if Sutherland doesn’t possess the knockout power that the Irishman does with Walsh’s knockout rate sitting at an impressive 83.33% percent, with the granite in his left leaving many a set of legs wobbling.
"I’m feeling good, I’m looking forward to the step up. Everyone thinks this is going to be the toughest fight of my career so far – and it probably is.
"Dean’s going to be prepared to do his best and so I am. I am expecting a tough fight at the beginning maybe unless I catch him early.
"I think that’s going to be the biggest difference, my boxing skills are very good. I think his boxing skills are probably very good too but at the end of it I have a lot more punching power in my hands than him. Over a 10-round fight, you’ll see a difference in the power."
What a journey it’s been for Walsh in his short career. From dreaming of an Irish Olympic spot before Covid shut down both the gyms and those hopes, to changing course and spending a birthday alone in Mexico as he tried to facilitate an entry to the US before walking off the street into Roache's famed Wild Card gym in Hollywood.
Sutherland and the Garden for now, but who knows, if his stock continues to rise maybe someday the Páirc may be rocking for a world title fight.
Watch Walsh vs Sutherland on Sunday 16 March on UFC Fight Pass.
