LAS VEGAS – The Zuffa Boxing era begins Friday with a middleweight showdown between Callum Walsh and Carlos Ocampo, broadcast live from the Meta Apex in Las Vegas and available on Paramount+. The event marks the first foray into the boxing world for Zuffa, the parent company of the UFC.
Walsh (15-0, 11 KO) has steadily climbed the ranks as a professional fighter, most recently securing a significant victory over previously undefeated Fernando Vargas on the undercard of the Terence Crawford vs. Saul “Canelo” Alvarez fight last September – an event co-promoted by Zuffa Boxing.
Walsh, who has a close relationship with UFC president and CEO Dana White, was a natural choice to headline this inaugural event. “I think it makes sense,” Walsh said. “I’ve been around Dana, I’ve been around boxing for a while. I’ve been proving myself in the ring, getting the wins. I’ve had a big win in my last fight, and just the fact that I’ve been around Dana so long, pushing him to get involved in boxing. I’ve proved that I will fight anybody and that I’m really bringing the same mindset as the UFC to boxing. So, I think it’s only right to be the first main event and be given an opportunity to prove myself.”
White emphasized that his support extends to all fighters on the card, not just Walsh. “Every time that I do something, I build a team around me that’s extraordinary,” White said Wednesday. “This is what the matchmakers for boxing came up with. We believe that this is a strong card. Obviously, Callum is a kid that I’ve supported for a long time. People thought that I was his manager… I’ve never made a dollar off Callum. I’ve just liked him from the time I met him and I’ve backed him, and here we are today. Just because I’ve had a relationship with this kid and he’s in this position… I don’t determine who wins the fights.”
Ocampo’s Experience Presents a Test for Walsh
Table of Contents
Walsh’s opponent, Carlos Ocampo (38-3, 26 KO), brings a wealth of experience, though he has fallen short in his biggest challenges. Ocampo contested the IBF welterweight title in 2018, losing by first-round knockout. He also fought for interim junior middleweight titles, suffering a decision loss to Sebastian Fundora and a first-round knockout defeat to Tim Tszyu in 2022 and 2023, respectively.
Despite those setbacks against top-tier competition, Ocampo has maintained a strong record, winning his last three fights by stoppage against lesser opponents. Walsh acknowledges the danger Ocampo presents. “I’m expecting an all-action fight, you know,” Walsh said. “I’m expecting a real fight. This is a real opponent, a real test for me to prove myself. He’s been in there with big names. He has a lot of experience, and if I can beat him, if I can get him out of there, then I’ll prove that I am up there with the best of them.”
The undercard features an intriguing middleweight bout between undefeated fighters Misael Rodriguez and Austin Deanda, and a junior welterweight contest between Cain Sandoval and Julian Rodriguez. Sandoval vs. Rodriguez is particularly noteworthy, with Sandoval looking to capitalize on a significant opportunity and Rodriguez coming off a 10th-round knockout of Avious Griffin, a prospect from Most Valuable Promotions, on the undercard of Jake Paul’s fight against Julio Cesar Chavez Jr.
Zuffa Boxing 01 Fight Card & Odds
- Callum Walsh -700 vs. Carlos Ocampo +450, middleweights
- Misael Rodriguez -700 vs. Austin Deanda +450, middleweights
- Cain Sandoval -230 vs. Julian Rodriguez +180, junior welterweights
- Omar Trinidad -265 vs. Max Ornelas +205, featherweights
- Floyd Diaz -1100 vs. Guillermo Gutierrez +600, bantamweights
- Emiliano Cardenas -1100 vs. Marcus Harris +600, bantamweights
- Robert Meriwether III -3000 vs. Cesar Correa +1000, junior lightweights
- Troy Nash -1600 vs. Jaycob Ramos +750, featherweights
Prediction: Walsh by Early Stoppage
Ocampo is a capable fighter, often cast as an opponent rather than a contender. He consistently brings the fight to his adversaries, giving Walsh a chance to demonstrate his power against a seasoned competitor. However, Ocampo’s tendency to leave himself open to strikes, combined with Walsh’s punching ability, suggests a potential stoppage. A key factor will be how Walsh adjusts to the middleweight division, having previously fought at 154 pounds.
A stoppage is the most likely outcome, but the speed at which Walsh achieves it, and how he performs overall, will be crucial observations. Pick: Callum Walsh via TKO in Round 3.
Related reading
