What a year it has been for emerging young and developing professional fighters again in the sport of professional boxing internationally, worldwide.
Oh yes, it was a very good year this year for boxing.
In all departments there were gains and increases across the board again this year, particularly in the East.
But this could not be made possible without the young boxers of the future and stars of the future breaking through.
You can’t call the likes of Shakur Stevenson, Devin Haney, Brian Norman and others prospects anymore of course — they are now world champions and pound for pound elite fighters in their own regard almost.
2025 Boxing News and Views Prospect Of The Year Award
Certainly in Stevenson’s case.
Fabio Wardley only took up boxing at 23 and this year at only 30, which is very young these days for a heavyweight, when professional fighters are now competing and winning world titles into their 40s these days, really hit off big time this year.
You could call him a prospect but not really after this year.
For a pure prospect out 2025 prospect of the year goes to Ireland’s Callum Walsh.
‘King’ Callum Walsh had another outstanding year as he continued his unbeaten career, kept winning and won his first real step up fight in good fashion quite recently on a huge event where there was much more pressure on him than usual.
What impressed us about him was his ability to keep improving as a fighter in all aspects, something that is the sign of potentially a world champion.
This mentality of always improving as a fighter in all aspects is only with the very best true, elite, fighting men and boxers that have proven this again this year even into their late thirties and early forties were the likes of Oleskandr Usyk, Terence Crawford, Manny Pacquiao, Nonito Donaire and Artur Beterbiev (in his training) — all still getting better as fighters.
In Crawford’s case, even though he retired, he was still getting better.
Callum Walsh looks to have that mentality and even though now he is trained by a very old Freddie Roach, Walsh could always just use Roach for his boxing expertise for another while longer if he cannot train him because of his age soon and higher another trainer to take him to the next level again.
Bomac and plenty of others would surely train this outstanding young fighter from Ireland, Callum Walsh.
Congrats Walsh and good luck for 2026.
Well done to all the young boxers who turned professional this year and are training over Christmas and new year’s as usual for fights.
