Cejudo's Boxing Debut Gets New Foe: Wanna Walton

Henry Cejudo will make his professional boxing debut against Javon "Wanna" Walton on Sept. 26 at Misfits Boxing's Miami event, after original opponent Deen The Great pulled out with an injury.

Cejudo, the retired two-division UFC champion and Olympic gold medalist, now steps in against a completely different kind of test. Walton is a 20-year-old actor known for his roles on Euphoria and The Umbrella Academy, but inside the ropes he's built a perfect record fighting for Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions. He debuted with a first-round knockout of Moises Guzman Almonte and currently sits at 3-0-1 under the MVP banner.

Why Cejudo Landed Walton Instead of Deen The Great

Misfits Boxing needed a replacement fast once Deen The Great was ruled out with an injury, and it turned to a rival promotion to fill the slot. The move required a cross-promotional deal between Misfits and MVP, something MVP executive Nakisa Bidarian confirmed came together with a serious payday attached. "Misfits offered us a significant financial guarantee for Wanna to step in on short notice against Henry Cejudo, an Olympic gold medallist and two-division UFC champion," Bidarian said. He added the fight is "a tremendous opportunity for Wanna to show the world why you don't play boxing" and said he expects Walton to "defeat a UFC great."

What This Fight Means Competitively

This is a swap that changes the whole complexion of the card. Deen The Great built his name as an influencer boxer with no real amateur pedigree, the kind of opponent a first-time boxer like Cejudo could reasonably be expected to handle on experience and athleticism alone. Walton is a different animal. He's young, undefeated, and has already banked a finish inside the MVP system that Jake Paul has used to develop legitimate prospects, not just influencer names. Cejudo brings elite wrestling pedigree and two UFC title reigns to the table, but he's 39 and has zero rounds of professional boxing experience. Speed and youth against championship experience and instincts makes this a far tougher litmus test than the fight originally on paper.

For bettors, the opponent change is the whole story here. A line built around Cejudo handling a green influencer boxer doesn't carry over to a bout against an unbeaten, MVP-groomed prospect who is nearly two decades younger. Expect the market to treat this as a far closer fight than the original pairing, with Cejudo's name recognition and combat sports pedigree balanced against Walton's boxing-specific reps and physical prime. Anyone who had early money down on the Deen The Great matchup should know this is effectively a new fight with a different risk profile.

The card goes down Sept. 26 in Miami as part of Misfits Boxing's crossover event.

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Henry Cejudo fighting in his boxing debut?

Henry Cejudo is now scheduled to face Javon "Wanna" Walton in his professional boxing debut on Sept. 26 at a Misfits Boxing event in Miami, after original opponent Deen The Great withdrew due to injury.

Who is Wanna Walton?

Wanna Walton is a 20-year-old actor known for Euphoria and The Umbrella Academy who is also an undefeated boxer, currently 3-0-1 fighting for Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions.

Why did Cejudo's original opponent change?

Deen The Great, Cejudo's originally booked opponent, withdrew from the Sept. 26 Misfits Boxing card due to an injury, prompting the promotion to bring in Wanna Walton as a replacement.