Overview
- White announced the junior middleweight main event for Zuffa Boxing’s first card at the UFC Apex in Las Vegas, which streams Jan. 23 on Paramount+.
- Walsh enters 15-0 (11 KOs) with top-15 placements in the IBF, WBC and WBO rankings after a decision win over Fernando Vargas Jr. on the Canelo–Crawford undercard.
- Ocampo brings a 38-3 (26 KOs) record with defeats only in high-level title bouts against Errol Spence Jr., Sebastian Fundora and Tim Tszyu, and has won three straight since 2023.
- White outlined plans for Zuffa Boxing to operate with its own championships and rankings and to match emerging fighters aggressively so top contenders face each other.
- Eddie Hearn criticized White’s entry as tensions rise within the industry, fan reaction to the Walsh–Ocampo headliner has been mixed, and reporting links the venture’s backing to Saudi Arabia and Turki Alalshikh.