Tag: Zepeda vs Vargas

Watch it: Jose Zepeda’s monster punch from ringside perspective

Watch it: Jose Zepeda’s monster punch to the head of Josue Vargas from a ringside perspective.

Jose Zepeda effectively ended his fight against Josue Vargas with a devastating straight left that put Vargas flat on his face in the first round Saturday in New York.

Vargas, badly hurt, was able to get to his feet but the fight was stopped moments later after Zepeda delivered a series of unanswered follow-up punches.

Vargas lasted only 1 minute, 45 seconds.

Here is a ringside view of Zepeda’s initial shot.

Watch it: Jose Zepeda’s monster punch from ringside perspective

Watch it: Jose Zepeda’s monster punch to the head of Josue Vargas from a ringside perspective.

Jose Zepeda effectively ended his fight against Josue Vargas with a devastating straight left that put Vargas flat on his face in the first round Saturday in New York.

Vargas, badly hurt, was able to get to his feet but the fight was stopped moments later after Zepeda delivered a series of unanswered follow-up punches.

Vargas lasted only 1 minute, 45 seconds.

Here is a ringside view of Zepeda’s initial shot.

Jose Zepeda puts Josue Vargas away in the first round

Junior welterweight contender Jose Zepeda knocked out Josue Vargas in the first round Saturday in New York.

Jose Zepeda made it clear on Saturday that he plenty left at 32.

The two-time title challenger put Josue Vargas down twice and stopped him only 1 minute, 45 seconds into their junior welterweight fight Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The beginning of the end was a straight left in the middle of the round that put Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) flat on his face and hurt him badly. Vargas was able to get up but never really regained his senses.

Zepeda had Vargas trapped in a corner and landed a series of hard shots, forcing him to slump to the canvas and prompting referee David Fields to stop the fight.

“I told him, and he probably knew I hit hard,” Zepeda said. “I don’t think he recovered after that shot. After the way he went down, I didn’t think [he’d recover].

“He probably was going to get up, but he was going to be wobbly on his feet, and that’s what happened. And I was able to finish him.”

Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) has now won five consecutive fights since he lost a majority decision to then-140-pound titleholder Jose Ramirez in 2019, not counting a no-contest.

He would like a shot at undisputed junior welterweight champ Josh Taylor.

“I’m 32 years old, and I’m in my prime,” said Zepeda, who is ranked No. 2 by the WBC. “I want the WBC world title and all the belts, to be honest. I’m ready for it. I showed today I’m ready for the WBC world title.”

Vargas couldn’t say much afterward.

“He caught me with a good left hand, and I tried to recover, but I think I got up too fast,” he said. “That’s what happened. Overall, I’m OK. I’m good. I’m healthy. We’re not stopping from here. It’s on to the next.”

 

 

 

 

Jose Zepeda puts Josue Vargas away in the first round

Junior welterweight contender Jose Zepeda knocked out Josue Vargas in the first round Saturday in New York.

Jose Zepeda made it clear on Saturday that he plenty left at 32.

The two-time title challenger put Josue Vargas down twice and stopped him only 1 minute, 45 seconds into their junior welterweight fight Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York.

The beginning of the end was a straight left in the middle of the round that put Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) flat on his face and hurt him badly. Vargas was able to get up but never really regained his senses.

Zepeda had Vargas trapped in a corner and landed a series of hard shots, forcing him to slump to the canvas and prompting referee David Fields to stop the fight.

“I told him, and he probably knew I hit hard,” Zepeda said. “I don’t think he recovered after that shot. After the way he went down, I didn’t think [he’d recover].

“He probably was going to get up, but he was going to be wobbly on his feet, and that’s what happened. And I was able to finish him.”

Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) has now won five consecutive fights since he lost a majority decision to then-140-pound titleholder Jose Ramirez in 2019, not counting a no-contest.

He would like a shot at undisputed junior welterweight champ Josh Taylor.

“I’m 32 years old, and I’m in my prime,” said Zepeda, who is ranked No. 2 by the WBC. “I want the WBC world title and all the belts, to be honest. I’m ready for it. I showed today I’m ready for the WBC world title.”

Vargas couldn’t say much afterward.

“He caught me with a good left hand, and I tried to recover, but I think I got up too fast,” he said. “That’s what happened. Overall, I’m OK. I’m good. I’m healthy. We’re not stopping from here. It’s on to the next.”

 

 

 

 

Jose Zepeda, Josue Vargas make weight for Saturday’s fight

Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas on Friday made weight for their junior welterweight fight Saturday in New York.

Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas came in under the 140-pound limit for their scheduled 10-round junior welterweight Saturday in New York (ESPN+).

Zepeda weighed 139.4, Vargas 139.0.

The fighters and their camps got into a scuffle after the fighters stepped off the scale, including the exchange of half-hearted — and perhaps choreographed — punches. However, it appeared that no one was injured.

Zepeda (34-2, 26 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Hank Lundy in May, which followed his 2020 Fight of the Year knockout over Ivan Baranchyk.

The Los Angeles-area fighter, a two-time title challenger, is hoping for another shot at a major belt.

Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) last fought in April, when he easily outpointed Willie Shaw.

Here is a video of the weigh-in.

[lawrence-related id=25169,14354]

 

Jose Zepeda, Josue Vargas make weight for Saturday’s fight

Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas on Friday made weight for their junior welterweight fight Saturday in New York.

Jose Zepeda and Josue Vargas came in under the 140-pound limit for their scheduled 10-round junior welterweight Saturday in New York (ESPN+).

Zepeda weighed 139.4, Vargas 139.0.

The fighters and their camps got into a scuffle after the fighters stepped off the scale, including the exchange of half-hearted — and perhaps choreographed — punches. However, it appeared that no one was injured.

Zepeda (34-2, 26 KOs) is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Hank Lundy in May, which followed his 2020 Fight of the Year knockout over Ivan Baranchyk.

The Los Angeles-area fighter, a two-time title challenger, is hoping for another shot at a major belt.

Vargas (19-1, 9 KOs) last fought in April, when he easily outpointed Willie Shaw.

Here is a video of the weigh-in.

[lawrence-related id=25169,14354]

 

Jose Zepeda vs. Josue Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background

Jose Zepeda vs. Josue Vargas: date, time, how to watch, background.

FIGHT WEEK

JUNIOR WELTERWEIGHT CONTENDER AND TWO-TIME TITLE CHALLENGER JOSE ZEPEDA RETURNS AGAINST JOSUE VARGAS ON SATURDAY NIGHT IN NEW YORK ON ESPN+.

***

JOSE ZEPEDA (34-2, 26 KOs) VS. JOSUE VARGS (19-1, 9 KOs)

  • Date: Saturday, Oct. 30
  • Time: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT (main event later in show)
  • Where: Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, New York
  • TV/Stream: ESPN+
  • Cost: ESPN+ is $6.99 per month or $69.99 annually (bundling options are also available)
  • Division: Junior welterweight
  • At stake: No major titles
  • Pound-for-pound ranking: None
  • Odds: Even (average of multiple outlets)
  • Also on the card: Carlos Caraballo vs. Jonas Sultan, bantamweights
  • Prediction: Zepeda KO 10
  • Background: Zepeda has been frustrated in world title fights at 135 and 140 pounds – losing in two rounds to Terry Flanagan after dislocating his shoulder and Jose Ramirez by a close decision – but he has otherwise fared well against top-level opposition, including a wide decision over Hank Lundy this May. The Los Angeles-area boxer-puncher’s fifth-round knockout of Ivan Baranchyk was the 2020 Fight of the Year. Zepeda is seeking a third shot at a major title or a rematch with Ramirez. He’s ranked in the Top 5 by the WBC and WBO, whose belts belong to Josh Taylor. Vargas was born in Puerto Rico but lives in the Bronx, New York, where he was an outstanding amateur fighter. He reportedly was 72-8 in the unpaid ranks. He would be undefeated as a professional if it weren’t for a controversial disqualification against Samuel Santana in 2016. However, Zepeda represents a step up in opposition for him. We’ll learn a lot about Vargas on Saturday night at the Garden.