Tag: William Zepeda

O’Shaquie Foster made the most of his showcase on Thursday in Hollywood, Calif.

The junior lightweight contender outboxed, outworked and ultimately outslugged Miguel Roman, stopping the Mexican veteran in the ninth round of a scheduled 10-rounder in the parking lot of the Wild Card Boxing Club, trainer Freddie Roach’s gym.

Foster (18-2, 10 KOs) was an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and showed his pedigree against Roman (62-14, 47 KOs), diffusing his aggression by fighting behind his long jab and using lateral movement.

And even when they exchanged punches inside, which is where the shorter Roman needed to be, Foster generally got the better of the exchanges.

Foster got off to a good start, putting Roman down with a straight right halfway through the opening round. Roman survived but fought out of a hole from then on.

The 35-year-old from Juarez, a volume puncher with power, continued to push the action but seemed to be a step behind Foster the entire fight. He had some positive moments, when he unloaded effective flurries, but he couldn’t land consistently enough to win rounds.

It appeared the fight was headed to a one-sided decision for Foster when, about 30 seconds into the ninth round, he landed a massive left hook that put Roman on the canvas and hurt him badly.

Roman got to his feet, convinced referee Jack Reiss that he could continue and then took a series of shots that prompted Reiss to stop the fight. The official time was 58 seconds of Round 9.

Foster was particularly excited because his victory came on NBC Sports Network’s new boxing series Ring City USA.

“I feel great,” Foster said. “I feel I showed everybody that I can box and can be on the inside. I have an all-around arsenal.”

Foster, ranked No. 9 by the WBC, believes he’s ready for any of the top 130-pounders. That includes the titleholders, including formidable WBC champ Miguel Berchelt.

The 27-year-old from Houston was asked afterward whether there is anyone in particular he would like to face next.

“I would love the Berchelt-[Oscar] Valdez winner, [Jamal] Herring-[Carl] Frampton,” said Foster, referring to proposed title fights. “Any of those guys. I’m ready to get into the ring with anyone.”

Roman would agree with that.

In preliminary bouts, lightweight prospect William Zepeda (22-0, 20 KOs) broke down and then stopped fellow Mexican Robert Ramirez (23-3-1, 16 KOs) at 2:43 of Round 5 of a scheduled 10-round fight.

Ramirez boxed well early in the fight but ultimately couldn’t withstand the work rate and power of Zepeda, who has stopped 12 consecutive opponents.

And junior lightweight contender Eduardo Herandez (30-1, 27 KOs) of Mexico stopped Eduardo Garza (15-3-1, 8 KOs) at 2:37 of the third round of a scheduled eight-rounder.

Hernandez, who had already busted up Garza’s face, landed a left to the body that forced Garza to take a knee. The Texan couldn’t continue.

Hernandez has won two consecutive fights since he was stopped in the first round by Roger Gutierrez in July of last year.

O’Shaquie Foster made the most of his showcase on Thursday in Hollywood, Calif.

The junior lightweight contender outboxed, outworked and ultimately outslugged Miguel Roman, stopping the Mexican veteran in the ninth round of a scheduled 10-rounder in the parking lot of the Wild Card Boxing Club, trainer Freddie Roach’s gym.

Foster (18-2, 10 KOs) was an alternate on the 2012 U.S. Olympic team and showed his pedigree against Roman (62-14, 47 KOs), diffusing his aggression by fighting behind his long jab and using lateral movement.

And even when they exchanged punches inside, which is where the shorter Roman needed to be, Foster generally got the better of the exchanges.

Foster got off to a good start, putting Roman down with a straight right halfway through the opening round. Roman survived but fought out of a hole from then on.

The 35-year-old from Juarez, a volume puncher with power, continued to push the action but seemed to be a step behind Foster the entire fight. He had some positive moments, when he unloaded effective flurries, but he couldn’t land consistently enough to win rounds.

It appeared the fight was headed to a one-sided decision for Foster when, about 30 seconds into the ninth round, he landed a massive left hook that put Roman on the canvas and hurt him badly.

Roman got to his feet, convinced referee Jack Reiss that he could continue and then took a series of shots that prompted Reiss to stop the fight. The official time was 58 seconds of Round 9.

Foster was particularly excited because his victory came on NBC Sports Network’s new boxing series Ring City USA.

“I feel great,” Foster said. “I feel I showed everybody that I can box and can be on the inside. I have an all-around arsenal.”

Foster, ranked No. 9 by the WBC, believes he’s ready for any of the top 130-pounders. That includes the titleholders, including formidable WBC champ Miguel Berchelt.

The 27-year-old from Houston was asked afterward whether there is anyone in particular he would like to face next.

“I would love the Berchelt-[Oscar] Valdez winner, [Jamal] Herring-[Carl] Frampton,” said Foster, referring to proposed title fights. “Any of those guys. I’m ready to get into the ring with anyone.”

Roman would agree with that.

In preliminary bouts, lightweight prospect William Zepeda (22-0, 20 KOs) broke down and then stopped fellow Mexican Robert Ramirez (23-3-1, 16 KOs) at 2:43 of Round 5 of a scheduled 10-round fight.

Ramirez boxed well early in the fight but ultimately couldn’t withstand the work rate and power of Zepeda, who has stopped 12 consecutive opponents.

And junior lightweight contender Eduardo Herandez (30-1, 27 KOs) of Mexico stopped Eduardo Garza (15-3-1, 8 KOs) at 2:37 of the third round of a scheduled eight-rounder.

Hernandez, who had already busted up Garza’s face, landed a left to the body that forced Garza to take a knee. The Texan couldn’t continue.

Hernandez has won two consecutive fights since he was stopped in the first round by Roger Gutierrez in July of last year.