This past Saturday night at the MGM Grand's Conference Center, Jose “Chon” Zepeda (32-2, 26 KO’s) won an extraordinary war of attrition against Ivan Baranchyk (20-2, 13 KO’s), to lift the WBC super lightweight silver belt.
Zepeda and Baranchyk took part in a battle with eight recorded knockdowns in five rounds of action. Both boxers were dropped four times.
The fight finally came to a close in the fifth, when Zepeda brutally knocked Baranchyk out cold.
Now Zepeda wants a rematch with WBC, WBO junior welterweight world champion Jose Ramirez.
Back in 2019, Zepeda lost a close twelve round decision to Ramirez.
The fight resulted in a majority decision loss, with some observers believing Zepeda had done enough to win.
Since then, Zepeda outboxed former two division champion Jose Pedraza, once-beaten Kendo Castaneda, and knocked out Baranchyk.
Ramirez is looking in the direction of a 2021 unification with IBF, WBA champion Josh Taylor. There is also a mandatory obligation to Jack Catterall, under the WBO, that Ramirez has to satisfy.
Zepeda believes that he'd leave no doubt in the rematch with Ramirez.
“I feel very good because I won an important match against a difficult opponent in Baranchyk. I know I am a tough fighter. I proved a lot to myself with that victory. It was a great learning experience that prepared me for the next step," Zepeda said.
“I would love to fight Ramirez again. The first one was a very close fight, but I feel like I won it. I know that the next fight we have there will be absolutely no question."
Top Rank's CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes Zepeda, told krikya360.com that he'll try his best to match Zepeda against Catterall on the undercard to the Ramirez-Taylor full division unification.
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