After a scuffle at Friday’s weigh-in and selection phrases at Thursday’s press convention, Jose “Chon” Zepeda didn’t waste time attending to work Saturday night. Zepeda iced Josue “The Prodigy” Vargas at 1:45 of the opening spherical at Hulu Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard, gorgeous the Bronx product in entrance of the house crowd. Zepeda retained his WBC Silver 140-pound belt and stored himself on the earth title image.
(Picture credit score: Mikey Williams / Prime Rank by way of Getty Photos)
Early within the spherical, the southpaw Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) countered Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) with a left hand that plastered him to the canvas face first. Vargas rose gingerly, however blood was within the water. Zepeda unloaded on Vargas, who took a bunch of unanswered punches in opposition to the ropes and crumpled to the canvas. Referee David Fields waved off the one-sided site visitors, and Zepeda had the grudge match victory.
“I used to be prepared. I used to be one hundred pc prepared, and I advised him within the press convention there are ranges to this. He was the one who wished to struggle me. I simply accepted the struggle, and it confirmed right now that boxing just isn’t a recreation in there. There are ranges to this,” Zepeda stated. “I advised him, and he in all probability knew I hit arduous. I don’t suppose he recovered after that shot.”
Vargas stated, “He caught me with a great left hand, and I attempted to get well, however I feel I received up too quick. That’s what occurred. General, I’m OK. I’m good. I’m wholesome. We’re not stopping from right here. It’s on to the following.
“I realized from my disqualification loss, and now I realized from my second loss.”
Zepeda is now unbeaten in six fights since his controversial choice loss to Jose Ramirez. Josh Taylor now guidelines the 140-pounders because the undisputed champion, however Zepeda as soon as once more etched his identify among the many division’s high contenders.
“I’m 32 years previous, and I’m in my prime,” Zepeda stated. “I would like the WBC world title and all of the belts, to be trustworthy. I’m prepared for it. I confirmed right now I’m prepared for the WBC world title.”
Sultan Stuns Caraballo
Filipino veteran Jonas Sultan (18-5, 11 KOs) didn’t learn the script. The previous world title challenger spoiled the New York debut of Carlos Caraballo (14-1, 14 KOs), knocking the Puerto Rican contender down 4 instances en path to a 10-round unanimous choice within the bantamweight co-feature.
All three judges scored the struggle 94-93 for Sultan, who knocked down Caraballo within the second, sixth, and ninth rounds. The 2 traded knockdowns within the third, with Caraballo touchdown a glancing blow because the bell sounded.
Sultan stated, “That is boxing. That is warfare. And I got here to win tonight. Caraballo is a troublesome man, however I wished this one.”
In different motion:
Carlos Jackson (18-1, 11 KOs) upset former junior featherweight world champion Jonathan Guzman (24-2, 23 KOs) by eight-round break up choice. In a tactical affair, the judges most well-liked the regular strain of Jackson (scores: 78-74 Jackson, 77-75 Jackson and 77-75 Guzman). Jackson had a 48-39 benefit in energy punches landed.
Junior welterweights Dakota Linger (12-5-3, 8 KOs) and Mathew Gonzalez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) threw down for six rounds. The judges couldn’t break up the 2, and after a firefight for the ages, New York Metropolis native Gonzalez held on to his unbeaten report with a majority draw (scores: 58-56 Gonzalez and 57-57 2x). Gonzalez managed the early rounds, however the free-swinging Linger had success together with his looping punches and devoted physique assault.
New York Metropolis welterweight attraction Pablo Valdez (5-0, 4 KOs) scraped previous East Los Angeles native Alejandro Martinez (2-2-1, 2 KOs) by six-round majority choice (scores: 59-55 2x and 57-57). There was drama within the fourth spherical when Martinez was wrestled to the canvas and injured his ankle. Had he elected to not proceed, the struggle would’ve been known as a no-contest. Martinez stored going, and Valdez summoned a second wind within the sixth spherical to tug away.
Rising welterweight Jahi Tucker (5-0, 3 KOs) wished to placed on present in entrance of his residence area followers. The Lengthy Island native overwhelmed Jorge Rodrigo Sosa (3-3, 3 KOs) and stopped the Paraguayan veteran with a ferocious mixture within the third spherical. Sosa, who dropped his third struggle in a row, had by no means been knocked out as a professional.
Native favourite Ray “The Scientist” Cuadrado (2-0, 1 KO) didn’t precisely dissect Michael Land (1-4-1, 1 KO), however the junior light-weight prospect prevailed by way of four-round unanimous choice. Land had some success within the fourth spherical, however that was not sufficient for him to attract even on the playing cards of the judges, who scored it 40-36 and 39-37 2x.
Junior welterweight prospect Kasir “Mazzi” Goldston (4-0, 1 KO) overcame the rough-and-tumble Marc Misiura (2-2, 1 KO) to win a four-round unanimous choice by an identical scores of 40-35. Within the fourth spherical, Misiura had some extent deducted for an intentional headbutt.
