‘Stubborness will be Ryan Walsh’s downfall,’ says Reece Mould

Reece Mould has warned Ryan Walsh to be careful what he wishes for ahead of their upcoming lightweight fight. 

Tensions rose at the fight’s launch press conference when the former long-reigning British champion Walsh was told that Mould believes that he can become the first man to stop him. 

The incredulous Walsh, 38, recently told BoxingScene that he has spent his entire career searching for somebody capable of dragging him into the type of soul-searching war he craves, but that he doesn’t believe Mould will stand by his words once the first bell rings on September 27. 

Mould, 18-2 (6 KOs), insists that he has absolutely no intention of shying away from a battle and that while he respects Walsh, 28-4-2 (12 KOs), the older man’s determination to seek out conflict will get him into trouble 

“Even when I wasn’t fighting him, I respect the Walsh brothers,” Mould told VIP. “They’re a proper boxing family and they’re in it for the same reasons as me. They love the sport and there’s no reason but that. It seemed like he wanted to take my head off when I last saw him though

“I think he’s so stubborn as a fighter. I think that’s going to be his downfall in this. I don’t believe his brothers think he should be in the ring. I’m taking him 100 per cent seriously because I know he trains all year around. He doesn’t drink or anything, like myself, but no matter how you are as a person, age does catch up with you. I don’t care what you say.

“I don’t think Ryan actually believes I’m coming to give him a fight. Deep, deep down his trainers know that I will. They are very respected as trainers and as a family. They know, if someone likes to fight, that sooner or later they’re gonna fight. I’ve said I’m gonna fight and, believe me, I’m gonna fight. It’s as simple as that.

The fight will be staged by GBM Sports who are looking to make a quick, significant impact in boxing and Mould has been selected as one of the title calibre fighters to help them establish a beachhead.

The 29-year-old is a two-weight English champion and, in 2021, gave the future WBA featherweight champion Leigh Wood a solid run before being stopped in the ninth. Mould looks much more suited to life at 135lbs, but though he appeared extremely unlucky to lose a decision to Gary Cully in November 2023, he is at the stage of his career now where another defeat at domestic level would be hard to come back from.

Mould knows that he can’t afford to tread water and sees Walsh as the type of recognisable name who can help him begin another climb towards a major title. 

“I’ve done a three-fight deal with them and I’m excited about it,” he said. “It’ll be shown on DAZN. We obviously lost our ranking with the WBA when Cully robbed me of my belt. I’m not dwelling on that because I’ve got a big task in front of me. I’m expecting Ryan Walsh to give me a much harder fight than Gary Cully did. That’s the gospel truth from me. 

“We got given five names and Ryan Walsh was by far the most established fighter out of them all. Let’s be right: Ryan Walsh has only ever lost to three world champions and someone else who won a European title. It’s a fact. It’s there on paper and I chose him out of those five.”

John Evans has contributed to a number of well-known publications and websites for over a decade. You can follow John on X @John_Evans79