By: Sean Crose
Ivan Redkach 24-7-1 took on Jose Zepeda 37-5 on Friday night in Temecula, California. Their scheduled 10-round bout, a bout for the interim WBC silver welterweight title, was the main event of a Marvnation fight that was being broadcast on the DAZN streaming service. A huge left to the body sent Redkach down and nearly unconscious in the first round. Redkach bravely got up, but it was clear he was in serious trouble. Somehow, the Ukrainian managed to survive the round.
Zepeda patiently played out the early part of the second round as the left-handed Redkach came to his man. However, a combination knocked Redkach down again late in the round. Redkach got up a second time, but it was all but over. One final, painful punch to the body knocked Redkach down and knocked him unconscious. The referee, knowing the fight was over, wisely did not bother to count before stopping the fight.
“I’ve been training really hard and I’m confident in my fitness, so I threw a lot of punches,” Zepeda said afterward. “I definitely feel stronger, that’s for sure. At forty-seven (147), I’m full of energy.” There was talk in the post-fight interview of a possible rematch with Regis Prograis, who had previously beaten Zepeda. “Anything that would be a fight,” Zepeda said, “I’d say yes.”
Zepeda-Redkach is one of those fights where two veterans of the game are looking to prove to the world that they still have something left in them. While Redkach clearly didn’t impress, Zepeda looked quite competent in the ring. With that said, he’s facing a man who is widely considered to be past his prime. However, a potential rematch with a well-known and highly regarded fighter like Prograis could help keep Zepeda in the game.
Of course, whether that rematch will materialize remains to be seen.
