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.