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Jose Zepeda walks to the ring earlier than his combat in opposition to Josue Vargas on October 30, 2021, in New York Metropolis. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
Jose Zepeda has overcome obstacles thrown at him all through his profession, out and in of the ring. That was the case on Monday, when the automobile he was touring in on his method to an open exercise crashed. The automobile was a complete loss, however Zepeda was in a position to stroll away with no accidents.
“Sorry about that,” Zepeda replied in a tweet to Marcos Villegas of Battle Hub TV. “[I] had just a little accident however I’m good. We’re 100% able to go! And staying focus.”
Within the thoughts of Zepeda, a automobile accident will not be as dangerous because the struggle he had in opposition to Ivan Baranchyk or as overwhelming because the bruising and aggressive type of Jose Ramirez.
In his purpose to grow to be a world titleholder, Zepeda can even have to beat the impediment that’s Regis Prograis Saturday evening at Dignity Well being Sports activities Park in Carson, California. The 12-round bout, for the vacant WBC junior welterweight title, will stream dwell on Fite.television Pay-Per-View ($59.99, 9 p.m. ET/ 6 p.m. PT).
Zepeda checks the chin of Kendo Castaneda, whom he defeated by unanimous resolution in July 2020. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank by way of Getty Pictures)
At Friday’s weigh-in, Zepeda weighed in at 139.4 kilos. Prograis weighed 139 kilos.
The conflict between Zepeda and Prograis is anticipated to be a firefight between two of the strongest power-punching fighters at 140 kilos. The combat is also a gorgeous matchup between two fighters ranked within the high 5 by The Ring. Prograis and Zepeda are ranked No. 1 and No. 3, respectively.
Zepeda (35-2, 27 knockouts), who presently resides within the Los Angeles suburb of La Puente, has not fought since a first-round knockout victory over Josue Vargas on October 30 of final yr. Zepeda has received his final 5 bouts since a very close majority decision loss to Ramirez in February 2019.
Saturday is not going to be Zepeda’s first try at a world title belt. In July 2015, Zepeda challenged then-unbeaten WBO light-weight titleholder Terry Flanagan. Through the second spherical of the combat, the southpaw Zepeda suffered a freak harm when his left shoulder dislocated whereas throwing a punch. He needed to quit on his stool after the round ended.
A transfer as much as 140 kilos, overcoming 4 knockdowns in opposition to Baranchyk two years in the past, and positioning himself to a world title combat was fairly the journey for Zepeda.
Jose Zepeda-Ivan Baranchyk is The Ring’s 2020 Fight of the Year
“I’ve been by rather a lot,” Zepeda informed The Ring Wednesday evening. “I’m prepared mentally and bodily. Expertise-wise, I imagine going by that ‘Battle of the Yr’ with Baranchyk and the shut combat in opposition to Ramirez would be the distinction.”
Zepeda solely wanted just a little greater than half a spherical to cease Josue Vargas. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
The 33-year-old has at all times possessed a stable skill-set to go with his energy. What he admits he lacked was confidence and a powerful psychological state to hold him by fights. That was evident in his combat in opposition to Carlos Diaz in June 2018, when Zepeda was dropped within the fourth spherical. Zepeda was in a position to overcome the knockdown to stop Diaz in the fifth.
Zepeda’s confidence is now at an all-time excessive and he’s in a unique mind-set in comparison with the place he was a number of years in the past.
“I felt I wasn’t given the credit score I deserved,” mentioned Zepeda, who’s educated by brother Rene and managed by Rick Mirigian. “It managed me. I stored considering that possibly I used to be an underdog and I used to be believing what folks considered me. I used to be the underdog in opposition to Baranchyk, (Jose) Pedraza and Vargas. I’m completely nice with being the underdog in opposition to Regis. The distinction now could be that I’ve way more confidence in myself and what I’m able to doing.
“I’ve had this dream of being a world champion since I used to be a child. Preventing [as an unbeaten prospect on club shows] on the Quiet Cannon (in close by Montebello), I wasn’t certain if I used to be going to proceed on that path. I solely had 16 beginner fights. I doubted myself in opposition to unbeaten fighters, Olympians or these amateurs with 200 fights. By no means did I feel I’d be within the place I’m now the place I’ve devoted one hundred pc as a fighter and [am] one win away from a world title belt.”
Standing in the way in which of that title is Prograis (27-1, 23 KOs), who has already held a world title at 140 kilos. Additionally 33, Prograis has received his final three bouts, all by knockout, since losing to Ring Magazine champion Josh Taylor in October 2019.
Regis Prograis: “I’ve been training for Zepeda for three years”
It’s a tough job to defeat Prograis, however Zepeda believes he has the capabilities to drag off the victory.
“Regis is a good man, and he has coronary heart,” mentioned Zepeda, who’s promoted by Prime Rank. “The Taylor combat was very shut. Taylor fought Ramirez in an in depth combat. I don’t assume he has fought somebody that may field like me. I’ve fought the higher opposition. I do know he hasn’t been as energetic as I’ve been or [faced] the [kind of] opponents I’ve confronted.
Zepeda digs into Hank Lundy’s physique throughout their combat on Might 22, 2021, in Las Vegas; Zepeda received by UD. (Photograph by Mikey Williams/Prime Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)
“Among the issues I went by in my profession made me a greater fighter. I realized from the Ramirez combat [that if] I had been ready higher and was in a greater psychological state, I might’ve received outright. I used to be beating him for six straight rounds and he was slowing down. I’ve confirmed in my final couple of fights how sturdy I’m, mentally and bodily.”
Zepeda will be the underdog going into the Prograis combat, however he’s not the identical man who confronted Flanagan and Ramirez.
“Regis goes to face one of the best model of Jose Zepeda on November 26. The boxing world will see one of the best model of me. I’ve proven what I’ve gone by and what I completed within the final couple of years.
“I can do greater than take punishment. I can provide it proper again. I imagine my time is now and I will likely be victorious on November 26.”
Francisco A. Salazar has written for The Ring since October 2013 and has lined boxing in Southern California and overseas since 2000. Francisco additionally covers boxing for the Ventura County (California) Star newspaper. He might be reached at [email protected]
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