William Zepeda (29-0, 25 knockouts) poses after making weight for his March 16 WBA/IBF title eliminator versus England’s Maxi Hughes in Las Vegas. Picture Credit score: Cris Esqueda, Golden Boy Promotions
LAS VEGAS — William Zepeda absorbed the cheers from his countryman and boos from those that crossed an ocean to help Maxi Hughes.
The one factor lacking from his lifelong dream of headlining in Las Vegas was the possibility to combat for a significant title. Then once more, the aim of Saturday’s combat is to result in that actual second.
“I get goosebumps simply serious about it,” Zepeda instructed The Ring. “Headlining in Vegas is one thing huge. We all know that Maxi Hughes is a top quality contender and who brings plenty of expertise into the ring.
“It is a robust task and there’s no place else I’d quite have this combat than right here in Vegas.”
The pair of top-ten light-weight contenders meet this Saturday from The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas. DAZN will air their scheduled twelve-round bout is a sanctioned WBA and IBF title eliminator.
Mexico’s Zepeda (29-0, 25 knockouts) can have his decide of the litter ought to all go in line with plan this weekend.
The 27-year-old southpaw from San Mateo Atenco is The Ring’s No. 5-rated 135-pound contender. A win this Saturday will advance him to No. 1 with the IBF. He already holds that spot with the WBC and WBA.
Baltimore’s Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis (29-0, 27 KOs), No. 2 at 135, holds the WBA title. Shakur Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), No. 4 at 135, is the present WBC titleholder.
England’s Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs), No. 9 at 135, stays a prime contender regardless of a loss in his final combat. The 34-year-old southpaw traveled stateside for a bitter defeat to former Ring champ George Kambosos Jr. (21-2, 10 KOs). Their July 22 ESPN headliner noticed Kambosos, No. 8 at 135, declare an unpopular majority choice.
Kambosos subsequent meets former three-division titlist Vasiliy Lomachenko (17-3, 11 KOs), No. 1 at 135, for the vacant IBF title. Their Might 12 title combat in Perth, Australia will carry the stipulation of subsequent dealing with whomever prevails on Saturday.
That’s the complete level of why this combat is going down. Golden Boy Promotions wished to offer a distinguished setting for its rising star who has completed his half.
Zepeda has significantly superior his competitors since his Nov. 2020 fifth-round knockout of Roberto Ramirez in his U.S. debut. One combat later, he stopped then-unbeaten Hector Tanajara after the sixth spherical of their July 2021 assembly. Each fights occurred in Southern California, which has housed seven of his eight stateside appearances. The newest got here in a sixth-round stoppage of former title challenger Mercito Gesta final September 16 in Commerce, California. A celebration of Mexican Independence Day was the theme all through combat week, the primary It was the proper transition for his Vegas debut, one meaning extra than simply satisfying a bucket listing merchandise.
“This combat is to point out that we’re prepared for these huge names at this weight,” famous Zepeda. We’re right here to point out that we’re prepared for Shakur Stevenson, Gervonta, the winner of Vasiliy Lomachenko and George Kambosos.
“That was the purpose of lining up this combat with Maxi, to change into the necessary and be first in line for all of these guys.”
Jake Donovan is a senior author for The Ring and vp of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America.Observe @JakeNDaBox
