William Zepeda’s latest opportunity to affirm his position as the top lightweight title contender in the world is to defeat a crafty fighter who came in two pounds heavier than him at Friday’s weigh-in.
Giovanni Cabrera (22-1, 7 KOs) weighed in at 137 pounds – two pounds over the lightweight limit – but the side agreed to adjust the contract weight as a result. Zepeda (30-0, 26 KOs) weighed in at 135 ahead of Saturday night’s DAZN-streamed main event at Toyota Arena in Ontario, California.
The bout sets up Zepeda, with a victory, for shots at a slew of champions, including WBC champion Shakur Stevenson, who’s also fighting Saturday night across the country in Newark, N.J.
Champions Gervonta Davis and Vasiliy Lomachenko are in negotiations for a unification, the other belt is worn by Ukraine’s Denys Berinchyk. In other Ontario bouts, Angel Acosta (111.6) and Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (111.8) made the 112-pound limit for their co-main event, for the WBC silver flyweight title.
Also, Manuel Flores (17-1, 14 KOs) was a light 124.4 for his 129-pound contracted bout against Noel Arambulet (23-8, 8 KOs) and young welterweights Joel Iriarte (2-0, 2 KOs) and Yainel Alvarez (3-4-2, 1 KO) made weight.
12 rounds – lightweight
William Zepeda (135 pounds) v Giovanni Cabrera (137 pounds)
10 rounds – flyweight
Ricardo Rafael Sandoval (111.8) v Angel Acosta (111.6)
10 rounds – junior featherweight
Manuel Flores (124.4) v (128.8)
6 rounds – welterweight
Joel Iriate (146.2) v Yainel Alvarez (146.8)
10 rounds – junior welterweight
Alex Martin (141.6) v Pedro Campa (140.8)
10 rounds – junior featherweight
Gael Cabrera (123.5) v Mychaquell Shields (123.8)
6 rounds – junior lightweight
Joshua Garcia (132) v Jason Buenaobra (130.8)
4 rounds – junior middleweight
Anthony Saldivar (155.4) v Roman Canto (156)
4 rounds – junior lightweight
Daniel Luna (129.4) v Joseph Walker (132.8)
8 rounds – junior featherweight
Japhetlee Llamido (123.4) v Ryan Allen (122.8)