Dana White is stepping into boxing with the launch of Zuffa Boxing, but fans are split on excitement after the full fight card was announced. While the promotion promises competitive match-ups, many feel the lineup lacks star power for its debut.
Main and Co-Main Bouts Highlight Rising Talent
The main event will see Callum Walsh face former world title contender Carlos Ocampo, a 30-year-old Mexican with a 38-3 record and 26 knockouts. Walsh, a long-term project of White and Tom Loeffler, is taking a significant step up in class for this bout.
The co-main event features unbeaten prospects Misael Rodriguez and Austin Deanda, while Julian Rodriguez squares off against Cain Sandoval, who enters with a perfect 17-0 record. Both fights are set to air on Paramount+ alongside the main event.
Preliminary Card Features Promising Match-Ups
The undercard includes Omar Trinidad vs Max Orlenas, Floyd Diaz vs Guillermo Gutierrez, Emiliano Cardenas vs Marcus Harris, and Robert Merriweather III vs Cesar Correa. The night opens with Troy Nash taking on Jaycob Ramos in the first-ever fight under the Zuffa Boxing banner. Across the 16 fighters, there are just nine losses combined, and three bouts feature undefeated opponents, offering a glimpse of potential future stars.
Fan Reactions Are Mixed
Since the announcement, reactions have been lukewarm. Some fans criticized the small-scale event and lack of big names, calling the card “worse than the average PBC undercard” and joking that they’d “have to be paid to watch.” Others, however, praised the competitive match-ups for serious fight fans. One Instagram user wrote: “If anybody knows boxing, this is actually fire. Good job @zuffaboxing — I believed when everyone doubted that you guys would have good fighters and fights.”
While the debut may not draw mainstream attention, it sets the stage for White’s long-term strategy in boxing, focusing first on developing promising talent before chasing marquee names.
