Dana White Makes Historic Boxing Debut with Zuffa Boxing Tonight
UFC supremo Dana White is poised to make his first official foray into the world of professional boxing later this evening, marking a significant moment in combat sports history. The inaugural event under the new Zuffa Boxing banner features a compelling main event between rising Irish star Callum Walsh and seasoned Mexican veteran Carlos Ocampo.
Zuffa Boxing: A New Era in Combat Sports
The promotion was launched last year by TKO Group Holdings in partnership with Saudi Arabia's Sela, with White spearheading the venture alongside Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh. Key figures including Sela managing director and CEO Dr. Rakan AlHarthy and WWE president Nick Khan are also set to play pivotal roles in the promotion's future development.
Tonight's showcase represents a bold expansion for White, who has dominated mixed martial arts through the UFC, and signals a new competitive landscape for professional boxing.
Main Event: Walsh Faces Toughest Professional Test
The headline bout sees Callum Walsh, a promising middleweight prospect, step up to face his most experienced opponent to date in Carlos Ocampo. Walsh enters the contest following a points victory over Fernando Vargas Jr on the Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford undercard last September, while Ocampo comes off a brutal knockout victory against Ricardo Banuelos Cernas.
"I think he's a dangerous opponent. He has a lot of knockouts. He has three losses in title fights, so he's definitely seasoned," Walsh told the UFC. "He's got a lot of experience, so I'm not underestimating my opponent at all. I just think I'm the younger, fresher, stronger fighter, and I'm gonna go out there and perform."
Ocampo responded with confidence at the pre-fight press conference: "I think I do have an extensive professional career, so I think we will see that on Friday night. Because these are great fighters. Great fights have been matched up and I think people need to be watching this fight between myself and Callum. It's an amazing fight, and I think people that love boxing should watch it."
UK Start Times: When to Watch
The event takes place at the Meta APEX Arena in Las Vegas with the following UK schedule:
- Undercard begins: Approximately 11pm GMT Friday (3pm PT / 6pm ET / 5pm CT)
- Main card starts: 2am GMT Saturday (6pm PT / 9pm ET / 8pm CT)
- Main event ring walks: Around 5am GMT Saturday (9pm PT / 12am ET / 11pm CT) with Ocampo entering first followed by Walsh
These times could be brought forward if undercard fights conclude earlier than anticipated, but the main event should not start later than the scheduled 5am GMT.
How to Watch: TV and Live Stream Details
Zuffa Boxing's debut event will be exclusively streamed on Paramount+. UK viewers can access the platform through the following subscription options:
- Monthly subscription from £4.99 per month
- Annual subscription for £43.99 paid upfront
Complete Fight Card and Undercard
The full lineup for tonight's historic Zuffa Boxing event includes:
- Main Event: Callum Walsh vs Carlos Ocampo
- Misael Rodriguez vs Austin Deanda
- Julian Rodriguez vs Cain Sandoval
- Omar Trinidad vs Max Ornelas
- Floyd Diaz vs Guillermo Gutierrez
- Emiliano Cardenas vs Marcus Harris
- Robert Meriwether III vs Cesar Correa
- Troy Nash vs Jaycob Ramos
This diverse card features both established names and emerging talent, promising an exciting night of boxing as Dana White's Zuffa Boxing makes its highly anticipated debut on the global combat sports stage.
