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?
(Picture Credit score: Golden Boy Promotions/ Cris Esqueda)
Most imagine that Denys Berinchyk, the WBO 135-lb champion, is the best and probably the most winnable struggle for Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs). Nonetheless, Prime Rank desires Keyshawn Davis to struggle Berinchyk, and there’s the likelihood 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 would like Tank Davis and Shakur Stevenson.’ Sure, these are the large names, and it sounds nice, however I believe the best way to go is Berinchyk as a result of that’s a winnable struggle,” stated Sergio Mora to DAZN Boxing, speaking about who William Zepeda ought to goal for his subsequent struggle.
“In opposition to the opposite guys, I’d 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 likelihood of getting a struggle in opposition to any of the 4 champions until the promoters need that struggle. Why would they? He’s not fashionable, and he brings a variety of issues, particularly in opposition to somebody like Shakur, who has no energy and can be on his bike all evening.
The Problem of Zepeda’s Output
“I don’t know if I’d make him an underdog in opposition to any of these guys,” stated Chris Mannix about William Zepeda. “I believe Zepeda’s output can be an enormous drawback for Tank. It might be extremely aggressive. Tank is able to shutting your lights out at any second.”
Zepeda can 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 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’d name it a 50-50 kind of struggle between Zepeda and Tank Davis. I do assume Berinchyk is the best way to go if they’ll make that struggle occur. However these different guys, Tank, Lomachenko, and Shakur Stevenson, you’ve obtained to deal with a man that throws 100 punches per spherical,” stated Mannix in regards to the difficulties that Zepeda would current to these fighters along with his excessive work fee.
A Ready Recreation: Zepeda’s Unsure Future
If Zepeda doesn’t thoughts ready for some time, he’ll finally 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 need 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 might be a scenario the place the judges would possibly rating it favorably to Shakur and ignore the stress 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 finally 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 depend of ten, that was Giovanni Cabrera saying, ‘I don’t need anymore.’ We’ve seen a variety of that from opponents of William Zepeda,” stated Mannix.
It did appear like Cabrera give up within the third spherical after being dropped with a physique shot from Zepeda. He stayed down till the depend of 9 earlier than beginning to stand up, and that normally means a fighter is quitting and needs an excuse to offer the followers and media for his or her loss.