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Walsh scores a one-sided victory on the inaugural Zuffa Boxing card

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LAS VEGAS — Undefeated Callum Walsh defeated Carlos Ocampo by unanimous decision in the main event of the inaugural Zuffa Boxing event at the newly renovated Meta Apex on Friday night.

Walsh (16-0, 11 KO) initiated and ended exchanges with Ocampo, repeatedly jabbing forward with his left hand. The judges scored the fight 98-90, 98-90 and 97-91.

“I rise to the occasion,” Walsh said. “I take advantage of every opportunity given to me and yes, 100 percent a better opponent will bring a better Callum Walsh. I’m ready for anything.”

Walsh and Ocampo didn’t throw much of a punch, taking turns lunging forward with powerful punches. Walsh landed the cleaner punches while Ocampo didn’t counter when he seemed to have gaps, allowing his opponent to get away with the fight.

Walsh had a decisive advantage, but the referee ruled he was knocked down on a questionable call in the sixth round. The blow to Walsh’s shoulder knocked him off balance and caused his glove to touch the canvas. Ocampo was assessed a questionable low blow in the ninth round.

Fight against Ensenada in Mexico Ocampo (38-4, 26 KO) ended in failure every time he took a step up in competition, losing to Tim Tszyu, Sebastian Fundora and Errol Spence Jr. Since losing to Tszyu in 2023, Ocampo has recorded three consecutive knockout wins, albeit against lesser opposition in Mexico, before the fight with Walsh.

Walsh, 24, had been praised by Dana White for several years, with many of his fights appearing on UFC Fight Pass before he formally signed with Zuffa Boxing. Walsh was coming off a unanimous decision victory over Fernando Vargas Jr. in September in the co-main event of Terence Crawford vs. Canelo Alvarez and was pleased with his performance against Ocampo.

“I feel like I’ve improved since my last fight,” Walsh said. “Cario-wise, I felt much better. I’m never satisfied with a performance unless I knock it out. I feel like going 10 rounds is a good result. The opponents are getting tougher. [Ocampo has] I was there with the best of them. It was a good experience. It was a good night all round. I’m cheerful that I managed to win.”

The middleweight clash was the main event of White’s long-awaited entry into the world of boxing. After announcing the launch of boxing promotions nearly a decade ago, White last year announced that UFC parent company TKO Group Holdings would enter the boxing industry under the name Zuffa Boxing in partnership with Sela Sport, with the support of Turki Alalshikh, president of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority.

The event took place the night before UFC 324, which will take place a few miles from the Meta Apex at T-Mobile Arena. UFC fighters, boxers and WWE superstars were on hand for Zuffa Boxing’s debut.

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Boxing

Keyshawn Davis says his next fight at 147 pounds could be a title shot

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Image: Keyshawn Davis Says Next Fight Likely at 147, “For a Championship”

“My next fight will definitely be under a credible name, bigger than Jamaine Ortiz,” Keyshawn told Fight Hub TV.

Since stopping Jamaine Ortiz in the 12th round on January 31 at Madison Square Garden, Keyshawn has been openly calling for bigger fights. He has mentioned names from junior welterweights and welterweights in interviews and on social media, including Devin Haney, Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz, Richardson Hitchins, Lewis Crocker and Lamont Roach Jr.

These challenges followed a performance that Keyshawn pointed to as evidence that he was among the top contenders. He dropped and stopped Ortiz in a fight where several previous opponents had gone the distance against a hard-wearing opponent. Now Keyshawn says the next step will take him to a welterweight title shot.

“I think I’m on the rise,” Keyshawn said when asked about the importance of his next fight, confirming plans to compete at 147 pounds and indicating the fight will be for the world championship.

Keyshawn did not name his opponent, but hinted that the fight would be a step up from his last fight. He also said that discussions about this fight have already taken place and that his return could come sooner than many expect.

A move up to welterweight would place Keyshawn in one of boxing’s most competitive divisions, with several established fighters already competing for title opportunities and championship fights receiving constant attention.

One possible opponent at 147 pounds is IBF champion Lewis Crocker, who Keyshawn mentioned when discussing future fights. Keyshawn has previously said he would be willing to head to the UK to challenge Crocker if a title opportunity arises. No agreement has been announced, but a fight has emerged as one potential path if the fighter wins the welterweight title outright.

For now, Keyshawn says preparations for his return are already underway as talks continue for a world title fight.

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Canelo Alvarez discusses his retirement plan

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Canelo Alvarez addresses his retirement plan

Canelo Alvarez talked about how long he could stay in the sport before hanging up his gloves and opting for a decorated career.

The 35-year-old is already destined for a place in the Hall of Fame, as he became a four-division world champion, but he still wants to compete at the highest level.

Since his professional debut in 2005, the Mexican has made 68 appearances and has twice become the undisputed king of the 168-pound division, scoring notable victories over the likes of Callum Smith and Caleb Plant.

However, his most critical victory came in the middleweight division, where Alvarez made a very controversial decision by majority vote in a rematch with Gennady Golovkin in 2018.

More controversial was their first meeting a year earlier, when many felt Golovkin had done enough to claim a convincing victory and the Kazakhstan ended in a draw.

Still, Canelo received plenty of credit for his follow-up triumph before dethroning Sergei Kovalev to capture the WBO featherlight heavyweight title over a year later.

Alvarez’s second undisputed super middleweight reign came to an end last September when Terence Crawford moved up two weight classes and won a unanimous decision.

But Canelo explained anyway Froch About the fight that he can still compete for another two years, maybe even longer, depending on how often his opportunities come along.

“I don’t know. I think maybe two years. I don’t need it, [but] I still enjoy it. If I [fight] maybe once a year [I can go on] a little bit [longer].

“Once a year to rest my body, I think I can fight more [than two years]”

Although an official announcement has not yet been made, Canelo is scheduled to fight in Riyad, Saudi Arabia this September, and Turki Alalshikh has promised to fight for the world title.

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The Inoue-Nakatani title fight will take place on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome

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Boxing’s worst kept secret has now been confirmed – Naoya Inoue (32-0, 27 KO) and Junto Nakatani (32-0, 24 KO) will meet on May 2 at the Tokyo Dome for Inoue’s undisputed junior featherweight championship.

The all-Japan clash was formally announced at a press conference in Japan. The fight will be broadcast live on Lemino pay-per-view; US distribution rights have not yet been announced.

Inoue – ESPN’s No. 2 pound-for-pound boxer – is coming off an impressive 2025 in which he competed four times, defeating Kim Ye-Joon, Ramon Cardenas, Murodjon Akhmadaliev and David Picasso. Thanks to Inoue’s unanimous decision victory over Picasso in December, Nakatani defeated Sebastian Hernandez in the second fight of the night in a tougher-than-expected fight. Their victories set up a long-awaited clash between two of Japan’s best players.

Nakatani is ranked No. 6 pound-for-pound by ESPN and will look to become a four-division champion after winning world titles at bantamweight, junior bantamweight and flyweight. Although Nakatani narrowly won his junior featherweight debut in a grueling fight against Hernandez, Nakatani proved he was one of the best fighters in the world and had a powerful showing in 2025, winning 3-0.

The Undercard will feature Inoue’s younger brother Takuma defending his WBC bantamweight title against former four-division titleholder Kazuto Ioka.

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