NEW YORK, NEW YORK – OCTOBER 30: Jose Zepeda is victorious as he defeats Josue Vargas for the WBC silver tremendous light-weight championship at The Hulu Theater at Madison Sq. Backyard on October 30, 2021 in New York Metropolis.(Picture by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc through Getty Photographs)
NEW YORK – Apparently, Jose Zepeda does have one thing left after his blood struggle with Ivan Baranchyk final October.
Zepeda (35-2, 27 knockouts) wanted 105 seconds to stomp out Josue Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) within the first spherical of their scheduled 10-round headliner Saturday night time at Madison Sq. Backyard’s Hulu Theater.
The 2 obtained right into a heated shoving match through the weigh-in on Friday, and it took little time for Zepeda to bang out Vargas, knocking him down with a brutal left hook, then ending him with a barrage of pictures ending it at 1:45 of the primary.
“I used to be prepared. I used to be 100% prepared, and I informed him within the press convention there’s ranges to this. He was the one who wished to battle me. I simply accepted the battle, and it confirmed in the present day that boxing is just not a sport in there. There’s ranges to this.”
“I informed him, and he most likely knew I hit exhausting,” Zepeda stated. “I don’t assume he recovered after that shot.
“After the best way he went down, I didn’t assume (he’d get well). He most likely was going to go up, however he was going to be wobbly on his ft, and that’s what occurred and I used to be capable of end him.
“I’m 32 years outdated, and I’m in my prime. I would like the WBC world title and all of the belts, to be sincere. I’m prepared for it. I confirmed in the present day I’m prepared for the WBC world title.”
Zepeda, a southpaw like Vargas, was coming off a 10-round unanimous resolution over Hank Lundy in Might. However that got here with a caveat of wanting boring towards the shopworn, although powerful 37-year-old from Philadelphia. It opened up hypothesis that Zepeda was not himself after the blood struggle he survived towards Baranchyk final October.
“He caught me with a very good left hand, and I attempted to get well, however I feel I obtained up too quick,” Vargas stated. “That’s what occurred. Total, I’m OK. I’m good. I’m wholesome. We’re not stopping from right here. It’s on to the subsequent.
“I realized from my disqualification loss, and now I realized from my second loss.
“It’s a part of the game. The best athletes in boxing have losses. I’m not ashamed of myself. I’ll be again stronger, for positive.”
Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He will be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.
