Jose Zepeda is done with taking the kind of fights that normally lead to a title shot.
The way he sees it, dues have been paid and it’s time to collect promises that have been made to the former two-time title challenger.
“I won’t accept anything else (but a title shot),” Zepeda bluntly stated following his ESPN+ streamed first-round knockout of Josue Vargas. “It’s been promised to me too many times. We’re ready.”
California’s Zepeda (35-2, 27KOs) once again marched into hostile territory for a big fight. The latest came in his explosive knockout of The Bronx’s Vargas (19-1, 9KOs), scoring two knockdowns to produce the emphatic finish Saturday evening at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
The win is the fifth straight for Zepeda, whose lone two defeats came in title fight on the road. His first loss came in a fluke injury stoppage, dislocating his shoulder in a July 2015 fight with then-unbeaten WBO lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan in the latter’s hometown of Manchester, England. One fight later, Zepeda saw a fight with countryman Jose Alfaro end after just one round due to a clash of heads causing a cut deemed too severe to allow action to continue.
Seven wins followed, all but one taking place at junior welterweight where he pursued another title. Zepeda came up just short in a twelve-round, majority decision defeat to then-unbeaten WBC junior welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez. Strangely, he once again saw a fight following a title shot end in a clash of heads, having since won five in a row. Included among the lot is his incredible fifth-round knockout of Ivan Baranchyk last October in the 2020 Fight of the Year which saw both fighters hit the deck four times each.
Zepeda was assured after the fight of another crack at the junior welterweight crown. His encore performance didn’t help arouse additional intrigue, struggling in a ten-round decision over 38-year-old Hank Lundy on the undercard of Scotland’s Josh Taylor (18-0, 13KOs) outpointing Ramirez in their terrific junior welterweight undisputed championship clash.
Following Saturday’s highlight reel victory, Zepeda is ready to go back on the hunt for the division’s top prize.
“I’m 32 years old and I’m in my prime. I’m in my prime and I want the WBC title,” noted Zepeda. “I want all the belts to be honest. I’m ready for Josh Taylor. I already fought his opponent, Ramirez. I think we’re all there and I’m ready for that.”
Jake Donovan is a senior writer for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox