Tag: William Zepeda

Analysis: Is Gervonta Davis the best lightweight in the world?

Analysis: Is Gervonta Davis the best lightweight in the world?

Who’s the best lightweight in the world?

There is no obvious answer to that question because there are a number of talented boxers who fight in one of the deepest divisions in the sport, at least at the top end of the 135-pound weight class.

Devin Haney has a strong argument that he’s No. 1 because he’s the undisputed champion, which is a significant accomplishment even if you believe titles have lost their luster.

I have great respect for the gifted Haney but I believe another fighter is better than he is: Gervonta Davis, who faces Hector Luis Garcia on pay-per-view Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Here is a look at the top seven 135-pounders, with their strengths and weaknesses. They’re listed in order of ability.

NO. 1 GERVONTA DAVIS (27-0, 25 KOs)

Strengths: Davis has the most impressive combination of ability and power in the division. He’s a smooth, polished boxer with underrated defensive skills. And no one else in the division has punching power to compare to his. Watch the brutal ending of his fight with Leo Santa Cruz. Also, his resume is solid, with victories over Jesus Cuellar, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Santa Cruz, Mario Barrios, Isaac Cruz and Rolando Romero.

Weaknesses: Davis’ downfall could come from trouble outside the ring, although that hasn’t affected his performances as of now.

NO. 2. DEVIN HANEY (29-0, 15 KOs)

Strengths: Haney is a wonderful boxer, with quick hands and feet to go with his elite boxing acumen. It’s beautiful to watch him do his thing. And like it or not he’s the champion. He dethroned George Kambosos Jr. by a wide decision last June and then did the same in a rematch in October. He also has an impressive resume, particularly given the fact he’s only 24. He has one-sided victories over Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz Jr. and Kambosos (twice).

Weaknesses: Haney isn’t a light puncher but he doesn’t the game-changing power of Davis, who’s a more-complete fighter.

NO. 3 SHAKUR STEVENSON (19-0, 9 KOs)

Strengths: Stevenson is as gifted as any boxer in the world in terms of his skill set, including Haney. The quick, graceful 2016 Olympic silver medalist has been untouchable in his rise to a unified championship at 130 pounds, even against top-level opposition. He has victories over Jamel Herring, Oscar Valdez and Robson Conceicao in his last three fights. He’s special.

Weaknesses: Stevenson has the same problem as Haney, a relative lack of punching power. That leaves him a step behind the more-complete Davis. Plus, Stevenson has yet to fight as a full-fledged 135-pounder. He seems to be ready to move up in weight but one never knows how he’ll adjust to fighting bigger men.

NO. 4 VASILIY LOMACHENKO (17-2, 11 KOs)

Strengths: No one in the division is more skillful than the boxing wizard from Ukraine. The two-time Olympic champion jumped into title contention immediately after turning professional because of that ability, which has allowed him to win major titles in three division in only 19 fights. The 34-year-old arguably has the best footwork in the sport.

Weaknesses: Lomachenko looked like an aging fighter in his unanimous-decision loss to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020, which cost him his position at or near the top of pound-for-pound lists. He rebounded to win his subsequent three opponents but many still wonder whether his best is behind him. He could change that perception if he fights Haney, as expected.

NO. 5 RYAN GARCIA (23-0, 19 KOs)

Strengths: Garcia has a lot in common with Davis, his fellow social media star. The former amateur star has unusual hand speed and a polished skillset. Plus, he, too, can end any fight in an instant with crushing power. And he’s also starting to build an impressive resume, including knockout victories over Luke Campbell in 2021 and Javier Fortuna last July.

Weaknesses: The victory over Fortuna was important for Garcia but he’s the least accomplished among the top 135-pounders. Of course, he’ll have the chance to change that assuming Davis beats Hector Luis Garcia and then faces “King Ry” this year.

NO. 6 FRANK MARTIN (17-0, 12 KOs)

Strengths: Martin looked like a world beater in his most recent fight, a wide decision over previously undefeated Michel Rivera. He gave a near flawless performance, although he was unable to stop his Dominican opponent. It appears Martin has the all-around ability to give anyone problems.

Weaknesses: Martin must still prove that he belongs with the best in the division. The victory over Rivera was impressive but Rivera entered the fight with limited experience. Martin will have to beat a next-level opponent to join the likes of Haney and Davis at the top of the division.

NO. 7 WILLIAM ZEPEDA (27-0, 23 KOs)

Strengths: Zepeda is a force of nature, a capable boxer who makes his living by applying unrelenting pressure on his opponents. He overwhelmed Joseph Diaz Jr. to win a wide decision in October, a breakthrough performance that lifted the Mexican into the conversation we’re having here. No one is going to be in a hurry to fight him.

Weaknesses: Zepeda remains relatively unproven. The victory over Diaz was a good step but Diaz appears to be in decline. Plus, Diaz has neither the boxing ability of fighters like Haney and Stevenson nor the power of Davis and Ryan Garcia. We’ll see how he does when he faces one of the above.

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Analysis: Is Gervonta Davis the best lightweight in the world?

Analysis: Is Gervonta Davis the best lightweight in the world?

Who’s the best lightweight in the world?

There is no obvious answer to that question because there are a number of talented boxers who fight in one of the deepest divisions in the sport, at least at the top end of the 135-pound weight class.

Devin Haney has a strong argument that he’s No. 1 because he’s the undisputed champion, which is a significant accomplishment even if you believe titles have lost their luster.

I have great respect for the gifted Haney but I believe another fighter is better than he is: Gervonta Davis, who faces Hector Luis Garcia on pay-per-view Saturday in Washington, D.C.

Here is a look at the top seven 135-pounders, with their strengths and weaknesses. They’re listed in order of ability.

NO. 1 GERVONTA DAVIS (27-0, 25 KOs)

Strengths: Davis has the most impressive combination of ability and power in the division. He’s a smooth, polished boxer with underrated defensive skills. And no one else in the division has punching power to compare to his. Watch the brutal ending of his fight with Leo Santa Cruz. Also, his resume is solid, with victories over Jesus Cuellar, Yuriorkis Gamboa, Santa Cruz, Mario Barrios, Isaac Cruz and Rolando Romero.

Weaknesses: Davis’ downfall could come from trouble outside the ring, although that hasn’t affected his performances as of now.

NO. 2. DEVIN HANEY (29-0, 15 KOs)

Strengths: Haney is a wonderful boxer, with quick hands and feet to go with his elite boxing acumen. It’s beautiful to watch him do his thing. And like it or not he’s the champion. He dethroned George Kambosos Jr. by a wide decision last June and then did the same in a rematch in October. He also has an impressive resume, particularly given the fact he’s only 24. He has one-sided victories over Jorge Linares, Joseph Diaz Jr. and Kambosos (twice).

Weaknesses: Haney isn’t a light puncher but he doesn’t the game-changing power of Davis, who’s a more-complete fighter.

NO. 3 SHAKUR STEVENSON (19-0, 9 KOs)

Strengths: Stevenson is as gifted as any boxer in the world in terms of his skill set, including Haney. The quick, graceful 2016 Olympic silver medalist has been untouchable in his rise to a unified championship at 130 pounds, even against top-level opposition. He has victories over Jamel Herring, Oscar Valdez and Robson Conceicao in his last three fights. He’s special.

Weaknesses: Stevenson has the same problem as Haney, a relative lack of punching power. That leaves him a step behind the more-complete Davis. Plus, Stevenson has yet to fight as a full-fledged 135-pounder. He seems to be ready to move up in weight but one never knows how he’ll adjust to fighting bigger men.

NO. 4 VASILIY LOMACHENKO (17-2, 11 KOs)

Strengths: No one in the division is more skillful than the boxing wizard from Ukraine. The two-time Olympic champion jumped into title contention immediately after turning professional because of that ability, which has allowed him to win major titles in three division in only 19 fights. The 34-year-old arguably has the best footwork in the sport.

Weaknesses: Lomachenko looked like an aging fighter in his unanimous-decision loss to Teofimo Lopez in October 2020, which cost him his position at or near the top of pound-for-pound lists. He rebounded to win his subsequent three opponents but many still wonder whether his best is behind him. He could change that perception if he fights Haney, as expected.

NO. 5 RYAN GARCIA (23-0, 19 KOs)

Strengths: Garcia has a lot in common with Davis, his fellow social media star. The former amateur star has unusual hand speed and a polished skillset. Plus, he, too, can end any fight in an instant with crushing power. And he’s also starting to build an impressive resume, including knockout victories over Luke Campbell in 2021 and Javier Fortuna last July.

Weaknesses: The victory over Fortuna was important for Garcia but he’s the least accomplished among the top 135-pounders. Of course, he’ll have the chance to change that assuming Davis beats Hector Luis Garcia and then faces “King Ry” this year.

NO. 6 FRANK MARTIN (17-0, 12 KOs)

Strengths: Martin looked like a world beater in his most recent fight, a wide decision over previously undefeated Michel Rivera. He gave a near flawless performance, although he was unable to stop his Dominican opponent. It appears Martin has the all-around ability to give anyone problems.

Weaknesses: Martin must still prove that he belongs with the best in the division. The victory over Rivera was impressive but Rivera entered the fight with limited experience. Martin will have to beat a next-level opponent to join the likes of Haney and Davis at the top of the division.

NO. 7 WILLIAM ZEPEDA (27-0, 23 KOs)

Strengths: Zepeda is a force of nature, a capable boxer who makes his living by applying unrelenting pressure on his opponents. He overwhelmed Joseph Diaz Jr. to win a wide decision in October, a breakthrough performance that lifted the Mexican into the conversation we’re having here. No one is going to be in a hurry to fight him.

Weaknesses: Zepeda remains relatively unproven. The victory over Diaz was a good step but Diaz appears to be in decline. Plus, Diaz has neither the boxing ability of fighters like Haney and Stevenson nor the power of Davis and Ryan Garcia. We’ll see how he does when he faces one of the above.

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Good, bad, worse: A big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda

Good, bad, worse: Saturday was a big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Lightweight contender Vasiliy Lomachenko seemed to acknowledge after outpointing Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday night in New York City that it wasn’t his best performance.

The question is, why?

Everyone was looking for signs of age from the 34-year-old. Was that it? Was it the 10-month layoff? Was it the emotional toll of the war in his native Ukraine? Was it Ortiz, who opened eyes with a surprisingly strong performance?

Maybe it was a combination of all of the above.

Lomachenko looked out of sorts early in the fight as he tried to adjust to the speed and tactics of his former sparring partner, which undoubtedly led some to think during those trying moments that he has begun to slip.

However, he found a groove by the middle rounds and took firm control of the fight, looking a lot like the boxing wizard of the past. Maybe the age thing wasn’t a big factor after all.

The layoff? A lot of fighters go long periods of time without fighting these days. It doesn’t help, though. And one must assume his thoughts have been with his people, not on boxing given the war, although Oleksandr Usyk was able to put that aside and perform well against Anthony Joshua.

And Ortiz deserves credit. He didn’t deliver the life-changing performance for which he was hoping but he made a strong statement. He could compete with anyone.

Bottom line: No, Lomachenko didn’t dazzle anyone. At the same time he cleared all the hurdles listed above – plus a natural size disadvantage in the lightweight division – to win a unanimous decision, 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

And, in addition to the victory, he realized another goal: His success set up a meeting with undisputed champion Devin Haney.

All in all, Lomachenko had a “good” night.

 

BAD

This item is filed under “bad” because Jake Paul baffles me.

Former MMA star Anderson Silva defeated genuine boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision in June of last year, which was surprising enough. Then, on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona, Paul dropped and outpointed Silva in their eight-round fight.

Huh?

The only conclusion I can come up with: Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) can fight a little.

No, I’m not losing my mind. His skills remain rudimentary, which is expected for someone with only a handful of fights in his life. He clearly is learning, however. That’s a product of natural gifts and hard work.

Of course, Silva is 47 years old. He’s well preserved but certainly not what he used to be.

So how did he beat Chavez? That probably had a lot to do with Junior, who hasn’t always been properly dedicated to the sport. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he didn’t train a day for his meeting with Silva.

And no one should suggest that Paul will be able to take down an elite opponent. Remember, he has beaten a fellow YouTuber, a retired basketball player and former MMA stars. Thus, we can’t get carried away.

Paul called out MMA’s Nate Diaz and boxing star Canelo Alvarez after his victory. Diaz? Makes sense. Alvarez? Uh, no.

Let’s just give Paul some credit for his progress. He’s a good athlete with God-given punching power, which has helped him learn quickly. It makes me wonder what he might’ve accomplished had he started boxing earlier. And he’s obviously a tough guy. Otherwise he wouldn’t have the courage to step through the ropes.

Again, let’s keep this in perspective. Paul isn’t going to beat legitimate contender any time soon. That being said, he’s more than just a social media star and self-marketing whiz.

He wouldn’t be fooling himself or anyone else if he were to call himself a “fighter.”

 

WORSE

This item is filed under “worse” with Joseph Diaz Jr. in mind: The 2012 U.S. Olympian and former 130-pound titleholder didn’t know what hit him on Saturday night in San Diego.

William Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) overwhelmed Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) from the opening bell with relentless, punishing pressure, never giving the loser a chance to get anything going in the one-sided lightweight fight.

In the process, Zepeda sent a message to the top 135-pounders: A new, legitimate threat is on the scene.

The Mexican’s motor was incredible. He threw a lightweight record 1,536 punches (connecting on 398), according to CompuBox. That’s a mind-boggling average of 128 punches thrown per round. Think about that.

And they weren’t pitty-pat shots; almost everything Zepeda throws is meant to hurt his opponents. The fact the naturally smaller Diaz was able to finish the fight on his feet is a testament to his resilience.

Can Zepeda beat the likes of Haney, Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia? I have my doubts. Haney and Lomachenko are better boxers than Diaz. And Diaz was able to hurt Zepeda at least once, which might not bode well against punchers like Davis and Garcia.

I’ll ask this, though: Who’s going to want to tangle with him after his performance on Saturday? 128 punches per round. Seriously?

Diaz might be at a crossroads.

He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights, including a draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, a victory over Javier Fortuna and back-to-back losses to Haney and now Zepeda. That looks bad but he’s only 29 and there’s no shame in those losses. Haney is a brilliant boxer and Zepeda is a force of nature.

Diaz isn’t finished.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

The Haney-Lomachenko fight will probably happen next. Haney, a rising star, wants another big fight and Lomachenko’s name on his resume. And Lomachenko wants a chance to reclaim his position at the top of the division after losing to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Can Lomachenko win? I believe him when he says he’ll be better prepared for Haney than he was for Ortiz but it would be a very difficult fight for him. Haney is one of the most skillful boxers in the world and 11 years younger than Lomachenko. Plus, did you see the size difference when they stood side by side in the ring after the fight Saturday? Lomachenko joked that Haney is a heavyweight, his way of pointing out one of his biggest disadvantages. I believe Lomachenko would have a shot. He will have shed any rust. And he has one obvious advantage over Haney: experience in big fights. I would be a fascinating matchup. … Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) of Ireland was as impressive as ever Saturday in London, where she easily outpointed previously unbeaten, but limited Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-1, 2 KOs) of Argentina. Taylor is now 16-0 in world title fights. A more significant challenge could come next: Taylor will now pursue a rematch with Amanda Serrano, who lost a split decision to Taylor in April. Promoter Eddie Hearn wants to stage Taylor’s next fight in Dublin, where Taylor is an icon. She has never fought professionally in her home country. It’s about time.

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Good, bad, worse: A big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda

Good, bad, worse: Saturday was a big night for Vasiliy Lomachenko, Jake Paul and William Zepeda.

A critical look at the past week in boxing

GOOD

Lightweight contender Vasiliy Lomachenko seemed to acknowledge after outpointing Jamaine Ortiz on Saturday night in New York City that it wasn’t his best performance.

The question is, why?

Everyone was looking for signs of age from the 34-year-old. Was that it? Was it the 10-month layoff? Was it the emotional toll of the war in his native Ukraine? Was it Ortiz, who opened eyes with a surprisingly strong performance?

Maybe it was a combination of all of the above.

Lomachenko looked out of sorts early in the fight as he tried to adjust to the speed and tactics of his former sparring partner, which undoubtedly led some to think during those trying moments that he has begun to slip.

However, he found a groove by the middle rounds and took firm control of the fight, looking a lot like the boxing wizard of the past. Maybe the age thing wasn’t a big factor after all.

The layoff? A lot of fighters go long periods of time without fighting these days. It doesn’t help, though. And one must assume his thoughts have been with his people, not on boxing given the war, although Oleksandr Usyk was able to put that aside and perform well against Anthony Joshua.

And Ortiz deserves credit. He didn’t deliver the life-changing performance for which he was hoping but he made a strong statement. He could compete with anyone.

Bottom line: No, Lomachenko didn’t dazzle anyone. At the same time he cleared all the hurdles listed above – plus a natural size disadvantage in the lightweight division – to win a unanimous decision, 117-111, 116-112 and 115-113.

And, in addition to the victory, he realized another goal: His success set up a meeting with undisputed champion Devin Haney.

All in all, Lomachenko had a “good” night.

 

BAD

This item is filed under “bad” because Jake Paul baffles me.

Former MMA star Anderson Silva defeated genuine boxer Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. by a split decision in June of last year, which was surprising enough. Then, on Saturday night in Glendale, Arizona, Paul dropped and outpointed Silva in their eight-round fight.

Huh?

The only conclusion I can come up with: Paul (6-0, 4 KOs) can fight a little.

No, I’m not losing my mind. His skills remain rudimentary, which is expected for someone with only a handful of fights in his life. He clearly is learning, however. That’s a product of natural gifts and hard work.

Of course, Silva is 47 years old. He’s well preserved but certainly not what he used to be.

So how did he beat Chavez? That probably had a lot to do with Junior, who hasn’t always been properly dedicated to the sport. I wouldn’t be surprised to learn that he didn’t train a day for his meeting with Silva.

And no one should suggest that Paul will be able to take down an elite opponent. Remember, he has beaten a fellow YouTuber, a retired basketball player and former MMA stars. Thus, we can’t get carried away.

Paul called out MMA’s Nate Diaz and boxing star Canelo Alvarez after his victory. Diaz? Makes sense. Alvarez? Uh, no.

Let’s just give Paul some credit for his progress. He’s a good athlete with God-given punching power, which has helped him learn quickly. It makes me wonder what he might’ve accomplished had he started boxing earlier. And he’s obviously a tough guy. Otherwise he wouldn’t have the courage to step through the ropes.

Again, let’s keep this in perspective. Paul isn’t going to beat legitimate contender any time soon. That being said, he’s more than just a social media star and self-marketing whiz.

He wouldn’t be fooling himself or anyone else if he were to call himself a “fighter.”

 

WORSE

This item is filed under “worse” with Joseph Diaz Jr. in mind: The 2012 U.S. Olympian and former 130-pound titleholder didn’t know what hit him on Saturday night in San Diego.

William Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) overwhelmed Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) from the opening bell with relentless, punishing pressure, never giving the loser a chance to get anything going in the one-sided lightweight fight.

In the process, Zepeda sent a message to the top 135-pounders: A new, legitimate threat is on the scene.

The Mexican’s motor was incredible. He threw a lightweight record 1,536 punches (connecting on 398), according to CompuBox. That’s a mind-boggling average of 128 punches thrown per round. Think about that.

And they weren’t pitty-pat shots; almost everything Zepeda throws is meant to hurt his opponents. The fact the naturally smaller Diaz was able to finish the fight on his feet is a testament to his resilience.

Can Zepeda beat the likes of Haney, Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis and Ryan Garcia? I have my doubts. Haney and Lomachenko are better boxers than Diaz. And Diaz was able to hurt Zepeda at least once, which might not bode well against punchers like Davis and Garcia.

I’ll ask this, though: Who’s going to want to tangle with him after his performance on Saturday? 128 punches per round. Seriously?

Diaz might be at a crossroads.

He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights, including a draw with Shavkatdzhon Rakhimov, a victory over Javier Fortuna and back-to-back losses to Haney and now Zepeda. That looks bad but he’s only 29 and there’s no shame in those losses. Haney is a brilliant boxer and Zepeda is a force of nature.

Diaz isn’t finished.

 

RABBIT PUNCHES

The Haney-Lomachenko fight will probably happen next. Haney, a rising star, wants another big fight and Lomachenko’s name on his resume. And Lomachenko wants a chance to reclaim his position at the top of the division after losing to Teofimo Lopez in 2020. Can Lomachenko win? I believe him when he says he’ll be better prepared for Haney than he was for Ortiz but it would be a very difficult fight for him. Haney is one of the most skillful boxers in the world and 11 years younger than Lomachenko. Plus, did you see the size difference when they stood side by side in the ring after the fight Saturday? Lomachenko joked that Haney is a heavyweight, his way of pointing out one of his biggest disadvantages. I believe Lomachenko would have a shot. He will have shed any rust. And he has one obvious advantage over Haney: experience in big fights. I would be a fascinating matchup. … Undisputed lightweight champion Katie Taylor (22-0, 6 KOs) of Ireland was as impressive as ever Saturday in London, where she easily outpointed previously unbeaten, but limited Karen Elizabeth Carabajal (19-1, 2 KOs) of Argentina. Taylor is now 16-0 in world title fights. A more significant challenge could come next: Taylor will now pursue a rematch with Amanda Serrano, who lost a split decision to Taylor in April. Promoter Eddie Hearn wants to stage Taylor’s next fight in Dublin, where Taylor is an icon. She has never fought professionally in her home country. It’s about time.

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William Zepeda overwhelms Joseph Diaz Jr., wins wide decision

William Zepeda overwhelmed Joseph Diaz Jr. en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in San Diego.

William Zepeda just never gave Joseph Diaz Jr. a chance.

The Mexican slugger pounded his way to unanimous decision over the former 130-pound titleholder in a 12-round 135-pound fight Saturday night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, a break-through victory for Zepeda.

The official scores were 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110, which was more one-sided than Diaz’s loss to undisputed champion Devin Haney in December.

Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) looked superhuman, overwhelming Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) with relentless, punishing pressure from the opening bell to the end of the fight.

Diaz was durable and had some good moments — including a big shot that hurt Zepeda in the sixth round — but he couldn’t keep pace with a punching machine like Zepeda.

Zepeda was ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies going into the fight. He’s sure to climb the lists after his strong performance.

“There were a lot of comments on social media that thought [Diaz] was my test,” Zepeda said afterward, according to RingTV.com. “I think I passed the rest with excellence. I’m ready for the best at 135 pounds.”

Diaz, a former U.S. Olympian, might be at a crossroads. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

William Zepeda overwhelms Joseph Diaz Jr., wins wide decision

William Zepeda overwhelmed Joseph Diaz Jr. en route to winning a wide decision Saturday in San Diego.

William Zepeda just never gave Joseph Diaz Jr. a chance.

The Mexican slugger pounded his way to unanimous decision over the former 130-pound titleholder in a 12-round 135-pound fight Saturday night at Pechanga Arena in San Diego, a break-through victory for Zepeda.

The official scores were 119-109, 119-109 and 118-110, which was more one-sided than Diaz’s loss to undisputed champion Devin Haney in December.

Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) looked superhuman, overwhelming Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) with relentless, punishing pressure from the opening bell to the end of the fight.

Diaz was durable and had some good moments — including a big shot that hurt Zepeda in the sixth round — but he couldn’t keep pace with a punching machine like Zepeda.

Zepeda was ranked by three of the four major sanctioning bodies going into the fight. He’s sure to climb the lists after his strong performance.

“There were a lot of comments on social media that thought [Diaz] was my test,” Zepeda said afterward, according to RingTV.com. “I think I passed the rest with excellence. I’m ready for the best at 135 pounds.”

Diaz, a former U.S. Olympian, might be at a crossroads. He’s 1-2-1 in his last four fights.

Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. William Zepeda: Date, time, how to watch, background

Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. William Zepeda: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Joseph Diaz Jr. and William Zepeda are scheduled to meet in an important lightweight bout Saturday night in San Diego.

JOSEPH DIAZ JR. (32-2-1, 15 KOs) VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA (26-0, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 29
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Pechanga Arena San Diego, San Diego
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: $19.99 per month or $149.99 annually
  • Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Jesus Perez, welterweights; Leonela Yudica vs. Arely Mucino, flyweights (for Yudica’s IBF title); Hector Valfez Jr. vs. Max Ornelas, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Zepeda SD
  • Background: The main event pits two respected 135-pound southpaws against one another. Diaz, a former 130-pound titleholder, is coming off a one-sided decision loss to undisputed champion Devin Haney last December, his first shot at a lightweight title. That followed a big unanimous-decision victory over Javier Fortuna that earned him the right to face Haney. The 29-year-old from the Los Angeles area fought in the 2012 Olympics for the United States. Zepeda, a hard puncher from Mexico, is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over veteran Rene Alvarado in May, his most significant win. The 26-year-old had stopped his previous 15 opponents. Zepeda is ranked by three sanctioning bodies, Diaz by two.

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Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. William Zepeda: Date, time, how to watch, background

Joseph Diaz Jr. vs. William Zepeda: Date, time, how to watch, background.

Joseph Diaz Jr. and William Zepeda are scheduled to meet in an important lightweight bout Saturday night in San Diego.

JOSEPH DIAZ JR. (32-2-1, 15 KOs) VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA (26-0, 23 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 29
  • Time: 9 p.m. ET / 6 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Pechanga Arena San Diego, San Diego
  • TV/Stream: DAZN
  • Cost: $19.99 per month or $149.99 annually
  • Division: Lightweight (135 pounds)
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: NA
  • Also on the card: Alexis Rocha vs. Jesus Perez, welterweights; Leonela Yudica vs. Arely Mucino, flyweights (for Yudica’s IBF title); Hector Valfez Jr. vs. Max Ornelas, junior featherweights
  • Prediction: Zepeda SD
  • Background: The main event pits two respected 135-pound southpaws against one another. Diaz, a former 130-pound titleholder, is coming off a one-sided decision loss to undisputed champion Devin Haney last December, his first shot at a lightweight title. That followed a big unanimous-decision victory over Javier Fortuna that earned him the right to face Haney. The 29-year-old from the Los Angeles area fought in the 2012 Olympics for the United States. Zepeda, a hard puncher from Mexico, is coming off a unanimous-decision victory over veteran Rene Alvarado in May, his most significant win. The 26-year-old had stopped his previous 15 opponents. Zepeda is ranked by three sanctioning bodies, Diaz by two.

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Joseph Diaz Jr. doesn’t plan to stay down for long

Joseph Diaz Jr. doesn’t plan to stay down for long.

Joseph Diaz Jr. has bounced back before. There’s no reason to think he can’t do it again.

“Jo Jo” lost a wide decision to quick, slick Gary Russell Jr. in 2018 only to win his next five fights, including a break-through unanimous decision over the favored Tevin Farmer to win the IBF 130-pound title in 2020.

Now he’s coming off another one-sided setback, this time against undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney last December, a loss that has led some to believe the 29-year-old’s best years are behind him.

Diaz (32-2-1, 15 KOs) aims to prove them wrong, starting with his comeback fight against Mexican slugger William Zepeda on Saturday in San Diego (DAZN).

“I’ve had a couple of losses, a couple of ups and downs in my career,” he told Boxing Junkie, “but I feel like my whole journey has made me the fighter I am today. They’ve made me more focused, more determined, hungrier.

“I used that energy in this training camp. I’m excited about Oct. 29.”

Zepeda (26-0, 23 KOs) could be a significant challenge for Diaz.

The 26-year-old is a fit, fierce warrior who has 23 knockouts in 26 fights for a reason: He can crack. Diaz expects Zepeda to attack him from the opening bell, which will almost be refreshing for the well-schooled American.

Diaz was the hunter against movers Farmer, Javier Fortuna and Haney. He’ll be the hunted against Zepeda.

“I don’t have to fight a guy I have to chase, like Farmer, Fortuna, Haney,” he said. “These guys fight on their back foot, trying to box, trying to move, being defensive. William Zepeda will apply a lot of pressure, which will allow me to show my boxing skills.

“I feel I’ll be able to be elusive, to show my skills, my defensive skills. Everything in my arsenal will come out on Saturday night.”

Plus, this being his fourth fight at 135 pounds, he feels he has grown into the division. His physical strength, he believes, will help him cope with the physical challenges Zepeda might present in their scheduled 12-rounder.

“I’ll have speed, elusiveness and power. You’ll see on Saturday night,” he said.

If things go well for Diaz, he hopes to move directly into another big fight.

That means a meeting with the likes of Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia or Shakur Stevenson, four of the most resected fighters in the world. All of them would be significant favorites to hand Diaz his third loss.

That perception wouldn’t faze Diaz, who has bucked the odds repeatedly in his career. His confidence has never wavered, even after setbacks.

He was asked how he was able to bounce back from the loss to Russell.

“A lot of determination, a lot of inner belief in myself,” he said. “I have that inner belief, trust in God, knowing everything I’ve been through. I believe I can overcome anything.”

Diaz’s critics might roll their eyes when they read that comment given his losses to Russell and Haney. Well, he insists the doubts work in his favor.

The 2012 U.S. Olympian said that his soon-to-be 2-year-old son is his primary source of motivation these days. After that comes those who don’t believe he has the ability to compete with the elite 135-pounders in spite of his credentials.

“The hatred fuels me,” he said. “A lot of people think I’ve fallen off, that I’m not the fighter I was. That right there motivates me. Like I said, I’ve had losses in my career. You can’t let that beat you. You just make adjustments the next time so you can be victorious. …

“I’m ready to perform.”

[lawrence-related id=33658,26495]

[vertical-gallery id=26501]

Joseph Diaz Jr. doesn’t plan to stay down for long

Joseph Diaz Jr. doesn’t plan to stay down for long.

Joseph Diaz Jr. has bounced back before. There’s no reason to think he can’t do it again.

“Jo Jo” lost a wide decision to quick, slick Gary Russell Jr. in 2018 only to win his next five fights, including a break-through unanimous decision over the favored Tevin Farmer to win the IBF 130-pound title in 2020.

Now he’s coming off another one-sided setback, this time against undisputed 135-pound champion Devin Haney last December, a loss that has led some to believe the 29-year-old’s best years are behind him.

Diaz (32-2-1, 15 KOs) aims to prove them wrong, starting with his comeback fight against Mexican slugger William Zepeda on Saturday in San Diego (DAZN).

“I’ve had a couple of losses, a couple of ups and downs in my career,” he told Boxing Junkie, “but I feel like my whole journey has made me the fighter I am today. They’ve made me more focused, more determined, hungrier.

“I used that energy in this training camp. I’m excited about Oct. 29.”

Zepeda (26-0, 23 KOs) could be a significant challenge for Diaz.

The 26-year-old is a fit, fierce warrior who has 23 knockouts in 26 fights for a reason: He can crack. Diaz expects Zepeda to attack him from the opening bell, which will almost be refreshing for the well-schooled American.

Diaz was the hunter against movers Farmer, Javier Fortuna and Haney. He’ll be the hunted against Zepeda.

“I don’t have to fight a guy I have to chase, like Farmer, Fortuna, Haney,” he said. “These guys fight on their back foot, trying to box, trying to move, being defensive. William Zepeda will apply a lot of pressure, which will allow me to show my boxing skills.

“I feel I’ll be able to be elusive, to show my skills, my defensive skills. Everything in my arsenal will come out on Saturday night.”

Plus, this being his fourth fight at 135 pounds, he feels he has grown into the division. His physical strength, he believes, will help him cope with the physical challenges Zepeda might present in their scheduled 12-rounder.

“I’ll have speed, elusiveness and power. You’ll see on Saturday night,” he said.

If things go well for Diaz, he hopes to move directly into another big fight.

That means a meeting with the likes of Haney, Gervonta Davis, Ryan Garcia or Shakur Stevenson, four of the most resected fighters in the world. All of them would be significant favorites to hand Diaz his third loss.

That perception wouldn’t faze Diaz, who has bucked the odds repeatedly in his career. His confidence has never wavered, even after setbacks.

He was asked how he was able to bounce back from the loss to Russell.

“A lot of determination, a lot of inner belief in myself,” he said. “I have that inner belief, trust in God, knowing everything I’ve been through. I believe I can overcome anything.”

Diaz’s critics might roll their eyes when they read that comment given his losses to Russell and Haney. Well, he insists the doubts work in his favor.

The 2012 U.S. Olympian said that his soon-to-be 2-year-old son is his primary source of motivation these days. After that comes those who don’t believe he has the ability to compete with the elite 135-pounders in spite of his credentials.

“The hatred fuels me,” he said. “A lot of people think I’ve fallen off, that I’m not the fighter I was. That right there motivates me. Like I said, I’ve had losses in my career. You can’t let that beat you. You just make adjustments the next time so you can be victorious. …

“I’m ready to perform.”

[lawrence-related id=33658,26495]

[vertical-gallery id=26501]