Ventura Resident Callum Walsh to Headline Inaugural Zuffa Boxing Event

Local boxing star Callum Walsh is preparing for the biggest stage of his career this Friday in Las Vegas. Walsh lives and trains in Ventura and is now the face of a brand-new era for the sport.

He is set to headline the very first Zuffa Boxing event at the Meta APEX. This is a new venture led by UFC President Dana White and the TKO Group.

Walsh will face Mexican veteran Carlos Ocampo in a 10-round middleweight main event. The fight is scheduled for Friday, January 23, 2026.

This is a massive step up in competition for the 24-year-old Irishman. Walsh currently holds an undefeated record of 15 wins and 0 losses with 11 knockouts.

His opponent, Carlos Ocampo, brings a wealth of experience to the ring. Ocampo has a professional record of 38 wins and 3 losses and has challenged for world titles three times.

Both fighters hit the scales at 159.5 pounds during Thursday’s weigh-in. This is the heaviest Walsh has ever been for a professional fight as he moves up into the middleweight division.

Walsh is widely considered a rising superstar in the boxing world. He is trained by the legendary Freddie Roach at Wild Card Boxing.

The event marks the launch of a new streaming partnership with Paramount+. The main card is scheduled to begin at 6 p.m. local time.

Ventura boxing fans are expected to tune in heavily to see their local hero. Dana White has publicly stated he wants to build Walsh into a global icon.

The fight serves as the kickoff for a busy weekend in Las Vegas. It takes place just one night before the massive UFC 324 event at T-Mobile Arena.