Callum Walsh was always a frontrunner to be a formidable and fresh face for Zuffa Boxing, and the Irishman will officially get the assignment when he headlines the upstart company's inaugural event against Carlos Ocampo at Meta Apex in Las Vegas on Friday.

Walsh (15-0, 11 KOs) and Ocampo (38-3, 26 KOs) will square off in a 10-round middleweight matchup as part of a three-fight card streaming on Paramount+ beginning at 9 p.m. EST.

"There can only be one first, and I am the first headliner, so I'm very excited for this massive opportunity," Walsh told The Ring. "I'm enjoying every minute of it and I am happy to be involved with Zuffa Boxing.

"This all came together naturally with my relationship with Dana White ever since the beginning of my career. I've proved that I belong, and I will fight anyone. I deserve the opportunity to show what I can do.

"There is no added pressure. I am going to go out there, fight like I always do and try my best to get the win. As long as I keep winning, good things will keep happening, and opportunities will come."

UFC and Zuffa Boxing frontman Dana White has big plans in place for Walsh, a 24-year-old whom he's taken a liking to ever since he made his pro debut in 2021 under Tom Loeffler's 360 Promotions. Loeffler built Walsh at a grassroots level for the last four years and developed him on UFC Fight Pass at locales like New York's Madison Square Garden Theater and Dublin's 3Arena, with White promoting Walsh along the way.

"As soon as these guys step in the ring on Friday, that's the end of the control for me," White said during a press conference on Wednesday. "They have to deliver the performances under the huge spotlight. We're just the bells and whistles, and that's what I am focused on, along with the great matchmaking ... bringing in talented guys who we think have a great future in the sport ... We're going to kick some ass this year."

Walsh is looking to do the same in 2026 by fighting four times in a new division, with a new training team. The career-long junior middleweight will now campaign as a middleweight due to Zuffa Boxing's preference for fighters to campaign in traditional weight classes.

"I was making 154 pounds easily, but I would have to cut my leg off to make 147, so 160 it is," said Walsh. "I still feel like I am big enough for 160. I walk around close to 180 when I am out of camp. I should still be sharp and feel good at middleweight.

"I know they are signing a lot of fighters, and I will fight anyone – just tell me the date and I'll get the job done. As long as I come out of the fights clean and with no injuries, I am ready to fight four times this year. I really want to take advantage of this new opportunity with Zuffa and stay as active as possible."

Walsh is coming into the Ocampo clash under different circumstances since he last graced the ring in September, scoring a workmanlike unanimous decision win against Fernando Vargas Jr. as the co-main event to Terence Crawford’s win against Canelo Alvarez.

To prepare for the occasion against Ocampo, the still-developing Walsh parted ways with career-long coach Freddie Roach.

But he decided to stick with the Hall of Fame trainer’s disciples in Marvin Somodio and Dickie Eklund Jr., who are now guiding Walsh’s career seven miles away from the Wild Card gym in Hollywood, California, at the Brickhouse Boxing Club in North Hollywood.

"Fighting as the Canelo-Crawford co-main event raised my profile a lot, even though I didn't perform as I should have and wanted to. It made me look at my training and prepare better for this time," said Walsh.

"Freddie and I still have a great relationship. We didn't end on bad terms. I just wanted to try something a little bit different for this camp to see what else I can get. Marvin and Dickie have learned everything from Freddie, so we are still using the ways of Freddie, but in a new way. We had a great camp and I am prepared. I'm ready to go."

The battle-tested Ocampo should provide a solid Litmus test to where Walsh currently stands among ascending contenders. Ocampo, a 30-year-old from Mexico, has mostly built his record on home soil but got his lights knocked out once the bright bulbs flashed.

Ocampo was stopped by then-welterweight titleholder Errol Spence Jr. in 2018 in one round and was knocked out by Tim Tszyu in the first round as well in 2023. Sandwiched in between the one-sided showings was a 12-round unanimous decision defeat against Sebastian Fundora in 2022.

"I've definitely seen enough tape on Ocampo to know where I am better and how I can utilize my style to beat him," said Walsh.

"Fundora wasn't using his distance against Ocampo, and he allowed the fight to get dirty on the inside, and Ocampo had some success. I fight a lot differently than Fundora. I use my movement well. I’m not going to let him sit on my chest and hit me. I should be able to move and land clean, big shots to get him out of there. I'm ready to go one round or ten.”

The encounter against Ocampo will be a dramatic change in environment for Walsh compared to his last fight, as he goes from fighting in front of 70,000 fans at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas and nearly 41 million more on Netflix to a few hundred people at UFC’s headquarters as part of a streaming service’s first boxing show.

"It doesn't matter where I am fighting," said Walsh. "I've fought all over the world and in all kinds of venues. It could be in front of a million people or in a random place in someone's backyard. You still have to go in there, fight, and get the job done.

"I have to beat Ocampo. I am not overlooking or underestimating him. He's a very experienced and tough opponent. He can be dangerous, if given the opportunity. I just need to stick to my gameplan to beat him, and hopefully I can knock him out to move on to even tougher opponents in the future."

White loves Walsh's attitude and is ready to reward the warrior with coveted fight dates whenever warranted.

"If you look at our track record with the UFC, it's the same in boxing," said White. "I want to sign anybody that we think can potentially be the best in the world, or is the best in the world, and put on the best fights that we possibly can.

"There is nothing that I like to hear more than guys who want to fight multiple times a year. One of my big problems with boxing is that they'll come on and put on a fight and not come back for another year. The more active you are, the more money you make, and the more people know who you are and are interested in seeing you fight."

While industry players claim “King” Walsh is in a proverbial position of royalty due to “Dana White privilege,” the proof is in the pudding that the power-punching southpaw has parlayed a prestigious amateur pedigree that featured 120 fights, six national titles and a European gold medal into to a credible run as a pro; it’s resulted in a diverse fan base and positive outlook to perhaps being crowned as a touted titleholder one day.

"As far as favoritism, I'm just another Zuffa Boxing athlete under the same roof," Walsh said. "That's the best thing about UFC and Zuffa. There are people that maybe Dana likes, but at the end of the day you have to get in there and fight, do your job and win."

Walsh has been around UFC circles for a considerable time. He’s currently dating UFC contender Tabatha Ricci and is regularly seated cageside at high-profile UFC and WWE events staged by TKO Group.

Walsh figures to be a mainstay as a captain wheeling the ship well after Zuffa Boxing’s maiden voyage set sail into the sweet science seas.

"I have to keep proving myself and keep winning to take advantage of the big plans that are in place for me," said Walsh.

"I need to perform and get the job done. I am trying to get as many fights as possible this year, and hopefully become the Zuffa Boxing champion. That's the ultimate goal for me – to become a champion and a household name."