At a recent UFC event, rising Irish boxing star Callum Walsh found himself in the spotlight with some high-profile spectators. Meta CEO Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, Priscilla Chan, were among the attendees, and their curiosity about pre-bout rituals led to a unique interaction with the young boxer.
Walsh, who is set to defend his WBC Continental Americas Super Welterweight title on September 20th at Dublin’s 3Arena, shared the surprising experience during an interview with Sportsnet. The Cork native expressed his astonishment at being recognized by the tech mogul, stating, “I never would’ve thought he would know who I am.”
However, it was Chan’s inquisitiveness that led to a memorable moment. According to Walsh, Priscilla had always been curious about the application of Vaseline on fighters’ faces before matches. Seizing the opportunity, a cutman known as ‘Cutman’ Tate asked Walsh if he could demonstrate the process for Chan.
“She wanted to see how it was done. She wanted to put on the Vaseline,” Walsh recounted. The boxer obliged, allowing for a hands-on demonstration of this pre-bout ritual.
This interaction highlights the growing crossover between tech industry figures and combat sports. Zuckerberg and Chan have been spotted at several UFC events, including the milestone UFC 300, showcasing their interest in mixed martial arts.
For Walsh, the encounter adds another layer to his already impressive career trajectory. Boasting an undefeated professional record of 11-0 with 9 knockouts, the Irish boxer is quickly making a name for himself in the sport. His upcoming bout against Przemyslaw Runowski will mark his first professional fight on Irish soil, adding extra significance to the event.
The rivalry between Elon Musk and Mark Zuckerberg has intensified again this past summer, with Musk once again challenging the META CEO to a MMA match during a visit to Capitol Hill. Musk’s declaration reignited talks of a showdown, which first gained attention last year when the two discussed a potential cage match with UFC CEO Dana White. Those plans fell apart due to disagreements over the rules, but Zuckerberg has continued training in MMA, though a knee injury sidelined him for several months. In response to Musk’s latest challenge, Zuckerberg asked, “Are we really doing this again?”. Unlike Musk, Zuckerberg really enjoys getting physical and regularly trains jiu-jitsu including alongside Volkanovski, Musumeci and even Craig Jones.
