Javon “Wanna” Walton, 17-Year-Old ‘Euphoria’ Star and Amateur Boxer, Partners with Jake Paul in Boxing Deal 

By Alex Vena
Published July 24, 2023, 4:07 p.m. ET

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Javon Walton

You likely know Javon “Wanna” Walton for his role as Ashtray in the HBO original series Euphoria. The somehow simultaneously adorable and terrifying young protege of Fez (Angus Cloud), Ashtray navigated drug deals and police raids with ease until his (SPOILER) devastating demise in the Season 2 finale.

Nonetheless, fans are well aware of Walton’s fighting skills, which certainly transcend his on-screen role. Walton, who has been boxing since he was four years old, announced today (July 24) that he has signed with Jake Paul‘s Most Valuable Promotions (MVP) boxing company, per Variety. Paul is the co-founder of MVP alongside his business partner, Nakisa Bidarian.

According to the outlet, Walton has received a vast array of athletic accolades, including being named the “first and only athlete in the state of Georgia to hold the youth gymnastics all-around and USA Boxing/Silver Gloves boxing champion state titles simultaneously.”

Boxing reportedly led him to his breakout role in Euphoria, as casting director Jennifer Venditti discovered him after his 2017 interview with Steve Harvey.

Wanna shared a promo video on Instagram, in which he is featured at a press conference and eventually makes his way over to the gym.

“I’ve been training so hard and working for the majority of my life for this moment,” he shared with Variety. “MVP feels like family and that’s very important to me. I know they can help me reach my goals in professional boxing and do it in a way that feels special to me.”

Walton is coached by his father DJ, who expressed that both he and his son “see this as an incredible opportunity to make a big impact on Wanna’s entrance into professional boxing.”

“The way Nakisa and Jake have been able to disrupt the boxing promotion business in such a considerably short period of time is inspiring” he added. “We’re honored to be MVP’s youngest signee.”

MVP also shared an Instagram announcement welcoming the “boxing prodigy and actor” to their company.

Both Ryan and Bidarian told Variety that Walton is” uniquely positioned to become the face of combat sports over the next decade.”

“With an unmatched blend of skills and pedigree, strong values, and a large highly engaged fan base before turning pro, he embodies a true superstar in the making,” they continued. “We’re honored to welcome Wanna into our family of exceptional athletes and under MVP, he will be headlining global pay-per-view events in no time. MVP is leading a new era of boxing and Wanna is the future. We can’t wait to see his greatness unfold.”

Outside of Euphoria, Walton is known for his role as Stan in Netflix‘s The Umbrella Academy, as well as voicing Pugsley Addams in the 2021 animated sequel The Addams Family 2

The first two seasons of Euphoria are now streaming on Max.