Cejudo's Boxing Debut Goes Ahead With Walton Replacing Injured Deen the Great

The former UFC champion now meets actor-boxer Javon 'Wanna' Walton on Sept. 26 in Miami after Nurideen Shabazz withdrew hurt.

Henry Cejudo's move into professional boxing remains scheduled for Sept. 26 at Miami's James L. Knight Center, but a different opponent will stand across the ring. Nurideen 'Deen the Great' Shabazz pulled out because of an injury, and the switch was confirmed on Sept. 15, 2026.

Stepping in is Javon 'Wanna' Walton, a 20-year-old actor known from Euphoria who owns a 3-0-1 record as a pro boxer. He is being loaned to the card by Jake Paul's Most Valuable Promotions and last competed in September 2025, defeating Anthony Mora on points. Cejudo, 39, closed out his MMA career at 16-6 after a December 2025 loss to Payton Talbott prompted a second retirement from the UFC. He won Olympic gold in wrestling in 2008.

The five-bout card, promoted by Misfits Boxing and available on DAZN, is headlined by Cejudo (0-0) versus Walton (3-0-1) at 147 pounds over five three-minute rounds. In the co-main, Misfits middleweight champion and fellow former UFC fighter Tony Ferguson (1-0) puts his belt on the line against debutant Kenzo Biyong at 160 pounds.

Elsewhere, Fox Townley meets Justin Ibarrola for the MFB lightweight title at 135 pounds, Dawson Myles Barrett faces Louis Russell at 175, and Chad Lebaron takes on Nathan Barnatt at 168.