Boxing is about to witness a significant shift as Callum Walsh, often referred to as Dana White's favorite boxer, prepares to launch Zuffa Boxing at an event on Friday at the UFC's Apex facility in Las Vegas. This marks the inaugural event for Zuffa Boxing, an initiative that combines the vision of UFC's chief executive, Dana White, with financial backing from Saudi Arabia. At just 24 years old, the Irish light-middleweight is set to take center stage in this new boxing venture.
Walsh has become a familiar face within the UFC ecosystem, having built his career under the promotion's umbrella. He is recognized as White's preferred choice for this new boxing endeavor, having fought the majority of his bouts streamed on UFC Fight Pass, always with White supporting him directly. This made him a natural candidate to headline this fresh chapter for boxing under the UFC's brand.
In an interview with BBC Sport, Walsh shared, "Dana has witnessed my mindset and skills, and I truly believe I am the ideal representative for the boxing aspect of the UFC." He added, "Being involved with the UFC has always felt like my destiny, so it was a logical step for me to compete under Zuffa."
For his first fight under the Zuffa banner, Walsh will go toe-to-toe against experienced fighter Carlos Ocampo. The event will have a relatively low profile, coinciding with the UFC 324 fight week, and will take place at the UFC Apex, a venue typically used for MMA events without live audiences.
So, what led this promising young Irishman to become Dana White's first choice for a boxer? How did he transition from laboring on a fishing boat to training under the renowned coach Freddie Roach?
Walsh's journey began as an amateur boxer, where he achieved a commendable record of 25 wins and nine losses. His aspirations of joining the Irish Olympic team were crushed by the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, which halted many athletic pursuits. During that challenging time, he worked tirelessly on a fishing boat for seven days a week.
This demanding job helped him realize his dedication to boxing. After a period of reflection, he decided to relocate to Los Angeles to pursue his dreams more aggressively, knocking on the door of Roach's Wild Card Boxing Club. He immediately started sparring and quickly became a fixture at the gym, remaining there for two years without returning home and unable to work due to visa restrictions.
Reflecting on those early struggles, Walsh recounted, "I was earning nothing and spent a long time sleeping on couches. I even bought a car but crashed it soon after. There were moments when I thought about going back home, but I persevered and eventually obtained my green card."
He attributes his determination and the hard lessons learned from his fishing job as crucial motivators. "It made me realize that I didn't want to return to that life; it opened my eyes to the realities of life," he stated.
Walsh made his professional debut at the age of 20 at the Quiet Cannon Country Club in California and later signed with promoter Tom Loeffler, who was in the process of bringing boxing to UFC Fight Pass. As an avid fan of the UFC, Walsh felt incredibly fortunate when he secured a co-main event slot for the anticipated fight between Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Terence Crawford last September.
While this elevated pressure, Walsh expresses a strong belief in his ability to rise to the challenge, saying, "I’ve always thought I could make a living through fighting. I felt I had more to achieve, and here I am today. Greatness isn't about being undefeated; it's about giving everything you have and facing anyone that comes your way."
With the establishment of Zuffa Boxing, Walsh's connection with White has been officially cemented. However, the new boxing organization has sparked a mix of excitement and skepticism. The UFC's business model, which has propelled it to a billion-dollar valuation, faces legal hurdles in the boxing world.
The Muhammad Ali Boxing Reform Act includes provisions designed to protect fighters from exploitative contracts and restricts promotions from holding titles or crowning champions, which is a fundamental aspect of the UFC's operations. A legislative push led by White and the TKO Group, which oversees both the UFC and WWE, aims to modify the Ali Act significantly, raising concerns among fighters about potential reductions in earnings and control over their careers. Nevertheless, Walsh expressed no reservations about signing with Zuffa Boxing, stating, "I don’t involve myself in boxing politics or regulations. I simply show up to fight. Dana has been part of my journey throughout my career, so if he’s launching a boxing organization, I’m fully committed to fighting there."
White's overarching goal appears to be the sidelining of traditional boxing sanctioning bodies such as the WBO, WBC, IBF, and WBA, aspiring instead for Zuffa Boxing's title to become the premier championship alongside the esteemed Ring Magazine title, associated with Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in Saudi boxing.
When Zuffa Boxing released its initial promotional content, viewers caught a glimpse of a branded championship belt, which Walsh believes could revolutionize the sport. "Having a belt per weight class makes a lot of sense," he noted.
However, this leaves Walsh's immediate prospects uncertain as he aims for the world title level within the next year. The signing of Jai Opetia, the IBF cruiserweight champion, further complicates the landscape of Zuffa Boxing, with the organization asserting that all fighters competing on Friday are now exclusively tied to them.
"I'm not entirely sure how our relationship with the sanctioning bodies will unfold, but I definitely aim to become the champion of Zuffa Boxing," Walsh expressed. "I envision that within a year, we will host some of the biggest names in the sport."
