The boxer who accidentally became an actor

Boxer Walton followed his sister into gymnastics but boxing remained his true passion. Ironically, it was boxing that opened an unexpected door into acting.

At age 11, Walton appeared on Steve Harvey's television show, demonstrating boxing combinations on pads and showing off his gymnastics skills with a backflip. Casting director Jennifer Venditti spotted the appearance and reached out to his family about auditioning for Euphoria.

Walton says he decided to try it, and one opportunity led to another. His acting career grew to include roles in Amazon's Utopia and Netflix's The Umbrella Academy, as well as working alongside Sylvester Stallone in Samaritan.

Balancing two careers

Walton says acting has become an outlet for emotions he can't express in boxing. But juggling both careers is difficult — filming can take him away for six months, while fight preparation requires an eight-week training camp and total focus. Right now, his attention is on his upcoming bout.

On Saturday, Walton will face 39-year-old Henry Cejudo, an Olympic wrestling gold medalist and two-division UFC champion, who is making his professional boxing debut. Walton accepted the fight on less than two weeks' notice after Cejudo's original opponent withdrew. The bout has been sanctioned by the Florida State Commission and will count on both fighters' professional records.

In Walton's corner will be his father and trainer, who first brought him to the gym at age four. Walton describes their journey as one of mutual growth, learning to fight and to coach side by side.