Henry Cejudo Edges Split Decision Over Javon Walton in Misfits Boxing Debut
Former UFC double champion Henry Cejudo won a split decision over 20-year-old Javon Walton in his professional boxing debut at Misfits Boxing in Miami.
Henry Cejudo added another line to one of combat sports most unusual resumes Saturday night, winning a split decision over Javon "Wanna" Walton in the main event of the Misfits Boxing card at the James L. Knight Center in Miami.
Two judges scored the four-round bout 39-37 for Cejudo. The third had it 39-37 for Walton. It was closer than the former UFC flyweight and bantamweight champion probably wanted, per Yahoo Sports.
Cejudo, who was originally scheduled to face Nurideen Shabazz (known as Deen the Great), adjusted on the fly against the 20-year-old Walton. The first round gave Cejudo trouble as Walton used his reach advantage to keep the shorter fighter on the outside. Cejudo made adjustments beginning in the second, closing distance and landing harder shots. He controlled the pace in the third and fourth rounds, though Walton countered effectively when Cejudo pressed forward.
Cejudo acknowledged after the fight that round one did not go his way but credited his corner work for the adjustments that followed. He called out his originally scheduled opponent Shabazz after the result was announced.
The 39-year-old Cejudo, who retired from MMA after winning the UFC bantamweight title in 2020 before briefly returning in 2023, has now competed in Olympic wrestling, MMA and professional boxing. Few fighters in history have crossed between that many combat disciplines at a high level.
Look, Cejudo is never going to be a boxer. He is 39, he is 5-foot-4, and he was fighting on a Misfits card. Nobody is confusing this with a world title fight. But here is the thing: the man competed at the Olympics, won UFC titles at two weights, and now has a professional boxing win. Name me another fighter who has done all three. I will wait.
The fight was closer than it should have been. Walton is 20 years old and has reach on Cejudo, and that first round showed it. But Cejudo did what Cejudo always does: he adjusted, he found a way, and he got his hand raised. That is the Triple C brand.
Is this the future of combat sports? Retired MMA champs fighting influencers on Misfits cards? Probably. At least Cejudo made it competitive.
