Walsh secures dominant victory in the first event of Zuffa Boxing.
LAS VEGAS — Undefeated Callum Walsh secured a comprehensive unanimous decision victory over Carlos Ocampo in the main event of Zuffa Boxing’s first event at the newly updated Meta Apex.
Walsh (16-0, 11 KOs) dominated the bout by initiating and concluding exchanges with Ocampo, consistently breaking through with a lunging left hand. The judges scored the fight 98-90, 98-90, and 97-91.
“I rise to the occasion,” Walsh stated. “I seize every opportunity presented to me, and undoubtedly, a superior opponent will bring out a better Callum Walsh. I’m ready for anything.”
Both fighters threw few jabs as they alternated lunging forward with a series of power punches. Walsh landed the more precise shots, while Ocampo missed opportunities to counter, allowing his opponent to take control of the match.
Walsh was well ahead but faced a controversial knockdown in the sixth round when a cuffing blow to his shoulder caused him to lose his balance and touch the canvas with his glove. This was later offset by a similarly questionable decision to penalize Ocampo for an accidental low blow in Round 9.
Hailing from Ensenada, Mexico, Ocampo (38-4, 26 KOs) has struggled against higher-level competition, having lost to Tim Tszyu, Sebastian Fundora, and Errol Spence Jr. Following his defeat to Tszyu in 2023, Ocampo achieved three consecutive knockout victories, albeit against lesser opponents in Mexico, before being matched with Walsh.
Walsh, 24, has received praise from White for several years, with many of his bouts showcased on UFC Fight Pass prior to his official signing with Zuffa Boxing. He was coming off a decisive unanimous decision win over Fernando Vargas Jr. in the co-main event of the Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez card in September and felt positive about his performance against Ocampo.
“I believe I’ve improved since my last fight,” Walsh remarked. “In terms of cardio, I felt significantly better. I’m never satisfied with my performance unless I achieve a knockout. Completing the 10 rounds is beneficial. The opponents are becoming increasingly challenging. He has faced some of the best. It was a valuable experience. Overall, it was a good night, and I’m pleased to secure the win.”
This middleweight matchup highlighted White’s eagerly awaited entry into the boxing arena. After hinting at the launch of a boxing promotion nearly a decade ago, it finally materialized last year when White announced that the UFC’s parent company, TKO Group Holdings, would venture into boxing under the name Zuffa Boxing in collaboration with Sela Sport, supported by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority of Saudi Arabia.
The event took place the night before UFC 324, which is scheduled to occur a few miles away from the Meta Apex at T-Mobile Arena. UFC fighters, boxers, and WWE Superstars were present for Zuffa Boxing’s debut on Paramount+.
