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Dana White Sets Walsh vs. Ocampo as Zuffa Boxing’s Debut Headliner on Jan. 23

The UFC-backed show is positioned as a test of White’s plan to replace boxing’s sanctioning bodies with a UFC-style system.

Overview

  • The junior middleweight bout will take place at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas on Jan. 23 and stream live on Paramount+, the night before UFC 324 at T-Mobile Arena.
  • Undefeated Callum Walsh enters 15-0 (11 KOs) and is ranked No. 4 by the IBF, No. 5 by the WBC and No. 13 by the WBO at 154 pounds.
  • Veteran Carlos Ocampo is 38-3 (26 KOs) with defeats to Errol Spence Jr., Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu, and he has since recorded three stoppage wins.
  • Dana White said he intends to sign rising talent and “get rid of the sanctioning organizations,” promising more direct matchmaking under the new banner.
  • The Apex venue is expected to host fewer than 1,000 fans, and early reaction to the main event on social media included pockets of criticism of the matchup.