The inaugural headline fight of the Zuffa Boxing era has been set. Dana White, President and CEO of UFC, revealed that junior middleweights Callum Walsh and Carlos Ocampo will be the main event at UFC Apex on January 23 in Las Vegas. This event will be broadcast live on Paramount+, occurring the evening before UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena, also in Las Vegas.
Walsh, boasting an undefeated record of 15-0 with 11 knockouts, has been a favored prospect under White’s spotlight, with many of his bouts featured on UFC Fight Pass. With the launch of Zuffa Boxing alongside TKO’s entry into the sport, Walsh is confirmed as the promotion’s centerpiece. He has consistently defeated lower to mid-level opponents and holds rankings of 4th in the IBF junior middleweight category, 5th in the WBC, and 13th in the WBO.
Walsh’s recent victory includes a unanimous decision win over Fernando Vargas Jr., featured on the undercard of Terence Crawford’s triumph over Saul “Canelo” Alvarez. Opposite him, Ocampo brings significantly more high-level experience but has struggled in his most critical fights. His three losses came against Errol Spence Jr. for the IBF welterweight title in 2018, Sebastian Fundora for the WBC interim junior middleweight title in 2022, and Tim Tszyu for the WBO interim title in 2023, with Spence and Tszyu both stopping him in the first round. Since his defeat to Tszyu, Ocampo has secured three overtime wins against lesser opponents.
The Zuffa Boxing event, labeled Z01, will also showcase two additional notable middleweight fights. Misael Rodriguez, undefeated at 14-0 with seven knockouts and a 2016 Olympic bronze medalist for Mexico, will face Austin DeAnda, who is 17-0 with 11 knockouts. Another bout features welterweights Julian Rodriguez (24-1, 15 KOs) against Cain Sandoval (17-0, 15 KOs).
Fan Take: This announcement is a thrilling moment for fight fans as it signals a bold new chapter for combat sports under the Zuffa banner, promising high-stakes boxing action that merges the UFC’s production prowess with boxing’s tradition. The Walsh vs. Ocampo clash could set the tone for Zuffa Boxing’s future, spotlighting fresh talent and potentially redefining how fight promotions engage audiences.
