William Zepeda’s win final Saturday night time over Giovanni Cabrera strengthened his place because the #1 contender at light-weight for all 4 belts. Now the query is, which champion can Zepeda’s promoters at Golden Boy land for him to face this 12 months?
(Photograph Credit score: Golden Boy Promotions/ Cris Esqueda)
Most imagine that Denys Berinchyk, the WBO 135-lb champion, is the best and essentially the most winnable struggle for Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs). Nonetheless, High Rank desires Keyshawn Davis to struggle Berinchyk, and there’s the likelihood he may face unbeaten #8 Mark Chamberlain subsequent.
Provided that the sanctioning our bodies are sporadic in implementing mandates, it’s ineffective for Zepeda to go that route, and his #1 rating received’t assist him get a title shot in opposition to the High Rank-promoted Berinchyk in the event that they select Keyshawn as his subsequent challenger.
Berinchyk is the way in which to go
“Berinchyk is the way in which to go. Oscar De La Hoya is doing his job. He’s saying, ‘We wish Tank Davis and Shakur Stevenson.’ Sure, these are the large names, and it sounds nice, however I believe the way in which to go is Berinchyk as a result of that’s a winnable struggle,” mentioned Sergio Mora to DAZN Boxing, speaking about who William Zepeda ought to goal for his subsequent struggle.
“In opposition to the opposite guys, I might have Zepeda because the underdog. However both means, Zepeda has earned his shot at a world title. This man is destined to struggle a champion.”
Zepeda has no probability of getting a struggle in opposition to any of the 4 champions until the promoters need that struggle. Why would they? He’s not in style, and he brings quite a lot of issues, particularly in opposition to somebody like Shakur, who has no energy and could be on his bike all night time.
The Problem of Zepeda’s Output
“I don’t know if I might make him an underdog in opposition to any of these guys,” mentioned Chris Mannix about William Zepeda. “I believe Zepeda’s output could be an enormous downside for Tank. It could be extremely aggressive. Tank is able to shutting your lights out at any second.”
Zepeda could be an issue for all of the champions, however he may need to attend an extended, very long time earlier than he will get a title shot. It may mimic what we’re seeing at 168, with David Benavidez ranked #1 for ages but not getting an opportunity to problem champion Canelo Alvarez.
“I might name it a 50-50 sort of struggle between Zepeda and Tank Davis. I do suppose Berinchyk is the way in which to go if they’ll make that struggle occur. However these different guys, Tank, Lomachenko, and Shakur Stevenson, you’ve obtained to take care of a man that throws 100 punches per spherical,” mentioned Mannix in regards to the difficulties that Zepeda would current to these fighters together with his excessive work fee.
A Ready Sport: Zepeda’s Unsure Future
If Zepeda doesn’t thoughts ready for some time, he’ll ultimately get an opportunity to struggle for a belt at 135, however who is aware of when that can occur? If it’s in opposition to WBC champion Shakur, he may wish a knockout to win as a result of he’ll be transferring nonstop for twelve rounds like he did in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos.
It could be a scenario the place the judges would possibly rating it favorably to Shakur and ignore the strain and the more durable punches that Zepeda lands. That’s what we noticed in Shakur’s controversial win over De Los Santos.
“We noticed Cabrera have some success early on [against Zepeda], however then he ultimately succumbed within the third spherical. That wasn’t fairly the identical as Maxi Hughes saying, ‘I don’t need any extra’ and never popping out of his nook.
“By staying on his knee all the way in which to the rely of ten, that was Giovanni Cabrera saying, ‘I don’t need anymore.’ We’ve seen quite a lot of that from opponents of William Zepeda,” mentioned Mannix.
It did seem like Cabrera stop within the third spherical after being dropped with a physique shot from Zepeda. He stayed down till the rely of 9 earlier than beginning to rise up, and that normally means a fighter is quitting and desires an excuse to provide the followers and media for his or her loss.
