Callum Walsh would entertain a fight against Aaron McKenna over Stephen McKenna, insisting all-Irish clashes only make sense with the world title on the line.

Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs) fights former European champion Tyler Denny on the undercard of Aaron McKenna’s IBF world middleweight title showdown with Etinosa Oliha at Dublin’s 3Arena this Saturday, live on Sky Sports.

It’s the headline act of six middleweight bouts on a stacked card that also sees Stephen McKenna face Owen O’Neill over eight rounds before assuming corner duties for his younger, world title-chasing brother.

Walsh has been identified as a potential future opponent by Stephen McKenna (16-1, 15 KOs), but the unbeaten 25-year-old believes he’s already at another level.

Responding to McKenna’s challenge, Walsh told Sky Sports: “If there’s anyone that I’m looking at, it would be the fella with the world title, not the fella with the loss.

“In my mind, it doesn’t make sense unless it’s for a world title. There are bigger names than Stevie McKenna calling me out.

“Shane Mosley Jr is a bigger fight than Stevie McKenna. His brother Aaron is fighting for the world title. If I was going to fight either of them, I’d fight Aaron for the world title.”

‘It makes sense for him, not for me’

Walsh believes an all-Irish fight without a world title on the line could needlessly jeopardise the momentum middleweights are currently generating in Ireland.

“It’s a big time for Irish boxing,” he added. “As an Irish fighter from such a small place, there are three of us now in Zuffa Boxing. Why would we want to eliminate each other unless it’s for a world title?

“If it’s for a world title, at least you can get paid for it. You’re going to be able to sell out an arena and put on a big show for everyone involved. Why have an all-Irish fight on an undercard somewhere when it doesn’t make sense?

“It makes sense for him. It makes no sense at all for me. His brother’s fighting for the world title. There are bigger names calling me out. I’ve had bigger fights. It doesn’t make any sense.”

Walsh believes Stephen McKenna would be better served avenging his sole loss as a professional, a majority-decision defeat to Lee Cutler in 2024.

“He doesn’t even want to fight the fella who beat him,” he said. “He was asked if he wanted a rematch and he said no.

“Go back and fight the fella who beat you. That’s the one I’d be looking at if I was him. He’s in the same division, the same league, and he’s begging for the rematch.”

‘I’ll fight Aaron or the other fella’

Walsh, who fights in Dublin for the first time since knocking out Przemyslaw Runowski in two rounds in 2024, is confident he can overcome Denny and believes Aaron McKenna will become Ireland’s newest world champion.

Victory for both men would set up the mouth-watering prospect of an all-Irish world title fight, and Walsh insists he would have no problem facing Aaron should he emerge as champion.

“I don’t know much about his opponent, to be honest,” Walsh added. “I’m sure Aaron will win. I presume he will.

“It’s a big opportunity and a big night for him to go out there, perform and win the world title in Dublin. I think he will.

“If Aaron wins and they want me to fight him, I’ll fight him. If he doesn’t win, maybe I’ll fight the other fella.

“I just fight whoever they tell me to. I’m not out here calling anybody out. It’s just the same old habits.”

Watch Zuffa Boxing 10, headlined by Aaron McKenna vs Etinosa Oliha live on Sky Sports this Saturday.

We have a busy day’s racing on Saturday with Flat action from Ascot and Lingfield Park, live on Sky Sports Racing…

4.30 Ascot – Consistent pair Ebt’s Guard and Cerulean Bay fancied

The closing Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Mile is a belter with consistent duo Ebt’s Guard and Cerulean Bay among a field of 10.

William Muir and Chris Grassick saddle Ebt’s Guard who suffered trouble in running when down the field at Goodwood on his last outing but has shown a liking for this track with placed efforts in the Royal Hunt Cup and Balmoral in recent times.

Cerulean Bay, the ride of Jamie Melham, tops the weights for trainer David O’Meara. He finished strongly to claim second in the Goodwood Mile last weekend and a bold bid can be expected off a one-pound higher mark.

Two Tribes is a fascinating runner as he steps up to the mile after suffering a slow start at Goodwood last weekend and Dylan Browne McMonagle is a bonus.

1.35 Ascot – Tuco Salamanca, Bolo Neighs and Spartan Arrow feature

A competitive opening Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Dash where Tuco Salamanca and Bolo Neighs are sure to be popular.

Bolo Neighs looks an obvious player for Team Europe and Christophe Lemaire. The Ralph Beckett-trained four-year-old has not been beaten far on his last two runs here and if breaking on terms he should hit the frame.

Tuco Salamanca, the ride of Jerry Chau for the new Hong Kong team, rates a big danger.

Spartan Arrow has the services of Ryan Moore and after a solid run at Goodwood, he has been dropped another few pounds.

3.55 Ascot – Hoseki seeks a hat-trick under Saffie Osborne

Saffie Osborne gets the plum ride on the William Haggas-trained Hoseki who bids for a four-timer in this Dubai Duty Free Shergar Cup Classic.

A daughter of Saxon Warrior, she has excelled this season winning all three starts including over this course and distance last month and might have further progress in her despite a five-pound rise in the weights.

Blue Hercules is without a win in five starts but he is steadily improving with racing and having ran a cracker when runner-up here last time, he ought to be involved under Melham.

Each-way alternatives include Royal Poetry and Ohara, while Ryan Moore rides Archers Bay.

Best of the rest

11.37 Saratoga – Grade One Whitney Stakes – Magnitude, Sovereignty and Baeza feature among a cracking eight.

9.36 Saratoga – Grade One Test Stakes with Percy’s Bar, Movie Night and Explora involved.

10.14 Saratoga – Fourstardave Stakes where Deterministic will be fancied for Miguel Clement.

10.52 Saratoga – Grade One Saratoga Derby with Title Role and Pacific Avenue in action. Glacius represents Hugo Palmer.

7.10 Lingfield – Novice where Saffron Bay and Kanzi feature among seven runners.

2.10 Ascot – Shergar Cup Stayers with Dancing In Paris and Shrimp Shandy likely types.

2.45 Ascot – Shergar Cup Challenge where last year’s winner Night Breeze features.

3.20 Ascot – Shergar Cup Sprint – Thunder Call among the favourites.

12.58 Deauville – Group Three where William Haggas runs Tenability.

1.33 Deauville – Good Listed race – The Crisfords’ Social Symbol and Drazinda declared.

4.07 Deauville – Listed again with Poker involved for Amo.

4.42 Deauville – Listed affair where Britain are well represented.

When James Bracey thinks of Syd Lawrence, he does not first think of wickets, records or milestones.

He thinks of a man who never stopped giving to Gloucestershire cricket.

This Sunday, Gloucestershire will honour former England fast bowler Syd Lawrence during their Metro Bank One Day Cup fixture against Nottinghamshire, wearing a special commemorative kit and raising funds for the Motor Neurone Disease Association (MNDA).

For Bracey, the occasion is deeply personal.

One memory stands above all others: September 2024, when Gloucestershire won the T20 Blast for the first time in the club’s history. Lawrence, already battling motor neurone disease, was there to present the trophy.

“That was very special for me,” Bracey tells Sky Sports.

“We were obviously delighted that we’d just won the Blast for the first time as a team, but to see how much it meant to him, even at that stage of his life, was really emotional.

“It just showed how much he really loved the club. To see his face when he was able to hold that trophy was really special for me.”

Lawrence, who passed away in June 2025 aged 61, remains one of the most influential figures in Gloucestershire’s history. He became the first British-born Black cricketer to play Test cricket for England in 1988 and later became Gloucestershire’s first Black president.

Although Bracey never saw Lawrence play, his impact on the club was impossible to miss.

“From my experiences, he was an incredibly kind-hearted person, incredibly personable and cared a hell of a lot about Gloucestershire cricket,” Bracey said.

“Any time he was around the ground, he was chatting to everyone. He was larger than life and had a hell of a lot of energy.”

Sunday’s tribute is also designed to raise awareness of motor neurone disease and highlight the work of the MNDA.

“We’ve seen how public Syd was with his condition,” Bracey said. “But the impact it has on family and friends is just as important.

“That’s the amazing thing about what the MNDA do. They support the person with the disease, but they also help those around them.”

Lawrence’s legacy also extends beyond Gloucestershire. As a pioneering Black cricketer, he helped open doors for future generations.

“There’s been a lot of progress,” Bracey said. “But there’s obviously a lot more work to do in maintaining that progress and increasing it as well.”

As Gloucestershire and Nottinghamshire come together to honour Lawrence, Bracey hopes supporters remember the cricketer, the trailblazer and the person behind both.

“When I’m reminded of Syd, it takes me back to that day,” he said.

“It was a very special and happy moment for me to see what that meant to him.”

This weekend’s tribute will celebrate a man whose love for Gloucestershire never faded – and whose legacy continues to inspire the club he loved.