THE RESULT: William Zepeda, the boxing whirlwind, secured a victory as Britain’s Maxi Hughes was pulled out by his corner at the end of round four.
KEY MOMENTS: In the opening round, Hughes had a strong start, but Zepeda capitalized on opportunities to turn the tide from the second round onwards. The relentless body attacks from Zepeda were brutal to witness, causing Hughes to eventually run out of steam after 12 minutes of action.
RECORDS: Zepeda now boasts an impressive unbeaten record of 30-0 (26), while Hughes’ record drops to 26-7-2 (5 KOs).
TALKING POINT: William Zepeda proves to be a formidable lightweight contender, showcasing not just high punch volume but also strategic prowess. While he may need to work on his defense, Zepeda is prepared to take on top challengers like Shakur Stevenson or the winner of Vasyl Lomachenko and George Kambosos Jr.
QUOTABLE: “Thirty different camps, 30 different wins. We focused on seizing opportunities against Hughes without being reckless, and our hard work paid off,” Zepeda shared with DAZN’s Chris Mannix after the fight. “I am Mexico’s next champion. Bring on Shakur. We’re prepared for any challenge.”
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT? Zepeda, now the WBC and IBF mandatory challenger, anticipates a world title fight this year. Hughes may consider retirement or a final bout in the UK.