Fast Results from the Bubble: Zepeda Outclasses Castaneda; Lopez Upsets Vences

Former two-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda was the headliner tonight as Top Rank returned to “The Bubble” for another Tuesday edition of their semi-weekly summer series. In an uninteresting fight, Zepeda, a southpaw who competes at 140 pounds, improved to 32-2 with a unanimous decision over San Antonio’s Kendo Castaneda (17-2). The judges had it 97-93 and 98-92 twice.

Zepeda, who came close to upsetting Jose Carlos Ramirez on Ramirez’s turf in Fresno and then scored a mild upset over Jose Pedraza in his last start, simply had too much class for Castaneda who took the fight on seven days notice after Ivan Baranchyk suffered a a rib injury in training. Castaneda did his best work in rounds 6, 7, and 8, but Zepeda, who built up an early lead, pulled away in the homestretch.

Co-Feature

San Jose junior lightweight Andy Vences has now lost two of his last three after losing a 10-round split decision to Mexicali spoiler Luis Alberto Lopez. There were no knockdowns, but both fighters suffered cuts as a result of accidental head butts. Two judges favored Lopez 96-94 with the dissenter favoring Vences (23-2-1) by the same margin.

Vences, who had the bigger frame, recovered nicely after taking a battering in round six and apparently did enough to win the fight, but two of the judges thought otherwise. Lopez (21-2) has won nine of his last 10.

Other Bouts

In an 8-round lightweight contest, Andres Cortes came on strong over the second half of the fight to win a unanimous decision over Alejandro Salinas and keep his undefeated record intact. Cortes suffered a cut over his left eye in round two and was knocked down by an overhand right two rounds later, but never lost his composure.

A Las Vegas native, Cortes originally signed with Mayweather Promotions after a strong amateur career but was a free agent heading into tonight’s match and reputedly will formally join the Top Rank team after tonight’s showing where he advanced his record to 13-0. Salinas, from Youngstown, Ohio, declined to 10-3. (9).

The TV opener was a 4-round bantamweight contest between Gabriel Muratalla and Sergio Lopez. This was the fourth pro fight for Muratalla, the oldest of two fighting brothers. He stopped each of his first three opponents in the opening round, but Lopez, who wasn’t intimidated, extended him the distance in a good action fight. The judges had it for Muratalla by scores of 39-37 and 40-36 twice. Lopez falls to 4-6-3.

Off TV

In what was undoubtedly the most impressive showing of the night, San Diego welterweight Genaro Gamez (10-1, 7 KOs) rebounded from his lone defeat with a first round blast-out of Reymond Yanang (11-6-1). A straight right hand collapsed Yanang who appeared here two weeks ago, winning a split decision over Clay Burns.

Eric Puente improved to 3-0 with a majority decision over Diego Elizondo (2-2-2) in a 4-round lightweight clash. The scores were not shared with the TV audience.

Photo credit: Mikey Williams for Top Rank

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