Ringside in San Diego Where William Zepeda Defeated Jojo Diaz

SAN DIEGO-Mexico’s William Zepeda learned a lesson or two from the crafty former two-division world titlist Jojo Diaz and buzz-sawed his way to victory by unanimous decision in a lightweight showdown on Saturday.

Mexico City’s undefeated Zepeda (27-0, 23 KOs) took some bumps and bruises against the more experienced Diaz (32-3-1, 15 KOs) and showed more than 3,500 fans at Pechanga Arena that he can fight the elite lightweights.

Is he ready now?

Zepeda (pictured on the right) had rocketed up the lightweight ladder with a nonstop punching style that allowed him to steamroll almost every opponent. Against Diaz, it almost proved fatal when the former featherweight and super featherweight world titlist caught him with check right hooks. Zepeda wobbled but did not go down.

It was a great learning experience exchanging blows and counter measures against Diaz who was not about to be overrun by the younger Zepeda.

But Zepeda’s nonstop punching, though not always landing clean, was able to keep Diaz from setting up traps for the Mexico City fighter. Though Diaz had in several rounds, he just couldn’t muster enough power to score a knockdown. But his experience did provide a litmus test for Zepeda’s future.

He passed.

All three judges scored for Zepeda 119-109 twice and 118-110.

“I’m very happy for the victory,” said Zepeda. “We had confidence we could go in there and win.”

The win gives Zepeda a marquee win in the red hot lightweight division.

“We want to face the best in the division,” Zepeda said.

Female IBF World Title

Mexico’s Arely Mucino (32-3-2, 11 KOs) started the world title match quickly then held off Argentina’s Leonela Yudica’s (17-1-3) late charge to win the IBF flyweight title by split-decision. The San Diego crowd erupted into a roaring cheer when it was announced.

Though several early clash of heads caused a welt on the side of her left eye, Mucino continued to attack and put the pressure on the taller and more defensive Yudica. Things changed around the fifth when the Argentine champion began to open up.

Yudica countered with precise shots every time Mucino attacked with her body and head combinations. The swelling on Mucino’s eye continued to grow.

Just when it looked like Mucino was tiring, she found new energy in the seventh round to stop Yudica’s rally. It was just in time.

Though neither fighter was seriously hurt at any juncture, each absorbed hard blows the last three rounds of the fight. A knockdown could have changed the outcome but neither fighter was close to going down. After 10 rounds one judge saw it 96-94 Yudica, two others saw it 97-93 and 96-94 for Mucino. Once again, the Mexican fighter becomes flyweight world titlist. This was the second time Mucino has held the IBF version. She also held the WBC, WBA and WBO versions.

Sitting in the audience was unified WBA and WBC flyweight titlist Marlen Esparza and contender Sulem Urbina.

Other Bouts

Alexis Rocha (21-1, 13 KOs) knew little about Tijuana’s Jesus Perez (24-4, 18 KOs) but soon discovered he was in a fight for all 10 rounds. Still, he prevailed though he needed to survive the constant incoming fire from the very tough Mexican welterweight.

Rocha and Perez fought toe-to-toe Mexican style and after countless body shots, uppercuts and head snapping rights, it was the fighter from Southern California that won by unanimous decision: 100-89, 100-90 and 99-91. The scores don’t indicate how close and competitive every round was.

It was a fight to the finish that left the fans clapping at the end.

Dallas fighter Hector Valdez (16-0, 8 KOs) won a split decision over Max Ornelas (15-1-1, 5 KOs) to remain undefeated in a super bantamweight showdown after 10 rounds.

It was clash of different styles and saw Valdez win by putting constant pressure on the always elusive Ornelas of Las Vegas. Though Valdez was only effective when targeting the body, that was enough to convince two judges he was the victor. Two judges scored it 97-93 for Valdez and one saw it 97-93 Ornelas.

An entertaining super featherweight contest saw San Diego’s Jorge Chavez (4-0, 3 KOs) run into a one-two combination from Houston’s Adrian Leyva (3-4-2) in the first round. Chavez got up and then knocked down Leyva with his own right hand and down went the Texan. After that the two traded big blows but neither visited the canvas again. After six rounds Chavez was deemed the winner by unanimous decision 60-56, 59-55, 58-56.

Long Beach, Calif. fighter Japhethlee Llamido (10-0, 4 KOs) and Houston’s Adrian Leyva (3-4-2) opened up quickly with combinations. Llamido fired off a four-punch combination including a blistering left and that stunned Leyva. Llamido opened up even more and battered Leyva until referee Ray Corona stopped the super featherweight fight at 1:36 of the first round.

Mexico’s Jan Salvatierra (9-2, 4 KOs) survived a first-round knockdown from Robert Ledesma (3-9, 2 KOs) and then sped his way to victory winning the rest of the rounds to win by unanimous decision after four rounds in a flyweight match. Ledesma fights out of San Antonio, Texas. Salvatierra fights out of Los Cabos.

Hawaii’s Asa Stevens (3-0) floored San Diego’s debuting Mychaquell Shields (0-1) in the second round with a left cross and cruised to victory in a four-round featherweight fight between southpaws. Stevens showed experience and speed in his win. But Shields rallied late to make it interesting.

Photo credit: Al Applerose

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