William Zepeda’s win final Saturday evening 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 simplest and probably the most winnable battle for Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs). Nonetheless, Prime Rank needs Keyshawn Davis to battle Berinchyk, and there’s the chance he might face unbeaten #8 Mark Chamberlain subsequent.
On condition 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 Prime Rank-promoted Berinchyk in the event that they select Keyshawn as his subsequent challenger.
Berinchyk is the best way to go
“Berinchyk is the best way 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 feel the best way to go is Berinchyk as a result of that’s a winnable battle,” stated Sergio Mora to DAZN Boxing, speaking about who William Zepeda ought to goal for his subsequent battle.
“Towards the opposite guys, I might have Zepeda because the underdog. However both method, Zepeda has earned his shot at a world title. This man is destined to battle a champion.”
Zepeda has no probability of getting a battle in opposition to any of the 4 champions until the promoters need that battle. Why would they? He’s not fashionable, and he brings loads of issues, particularly in opposition to somebody like Shakur, who has no energy and could be on his bike all evening.
The Problem of Zepeda’s Output
“I don’t know if I might make him an underdog in opposition to any of these guys,” stated Chris Mannix about William Zepeda. “I feel Zepeda’s output could be an enormous downside for Tank. It might 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 might need to attend a protracted, very long time earlier than he will get a title shot. It might 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 battle between Zepeda and Tank Davis. I do suppose Berinchyk is the best way to go if they will make that battle occur. However these different guys, Tank, Lomachenko, and Shakur Stevenson, you’ve bought to cope with a man that throws 100 punches per spherical,” stated Mannix in regards to the difficulties that Zepeda would current to these fighters together with his excessive work charge.
A Ready Recreation: Zepeda’s Unsure Future
If Zepeda doesn’t thoughts ready for some time, he’ll ultimately get an opportunity to battle for a belt at 135, however who is aware of when that may occur? If it’s in opposition to WBC champion Shakur, he may need a knockout to win as a result of he’ll be shifting nonstop for twelve rounds like he did in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos.
It might be a state of affairs the place the judges would possibly rating it favorably to Shakur and ignore the strain and the tougher 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 best way to the rely of ten, that was Giovanni Cabrera saying, ‘I don’t need anymore.’ We’ve seen loads of that from opponents of William Zepeda,” stated 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 offer the followers and media for his or her loss.
