The vacant WBC super lightweight title is up for grabs at Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California on Saturday, as Jose Zepeda and former world champion, Regis Prograis do battle.
FITE TV pay-per-view broadcast Zepeda vs Prograis worldwide and the bout is promoted by MarvNation Promotions, who won an August purse bid.
The belt is on the line after Josh Taylor vacated the title to concentrate on a rematch against Jack Catterall.
Zepeda (35-2, KO27) has twice previously challenged for world honours without success. In July 2015, he was forced to retire after two rounds in a bid for the vacant WBO lightweight title in Manchester against Terry Flanagan after dislocating a shoulder, and in February 2019, the Californian dropped a majority verdict to Jose Ramirez for the same belt he challenges for this weekend.
The 33-year-old has won five straight since, including a 2020 fight of the year, fifth round knockout of Ivan Baranchyk that included an astonishing nine knockdowns.
‘Chon’ last boxed last October, stopping Josue Vargas in a round.
Prograis (27-1, KO23) became world champion in April 2019, when he stopped Kiryl Relikh in six to become WBA ‘super’ champion, and that also advanced him to the final of the World Boxing Super Series, where he suffered his only career loss, a razor-thin majority reverse to the aforementioned Taylor.
Since then, ‘Rougarou’ has won three on the spin, the last a sixth round stoppage of Tyrone McKenna in March.
Prediction: Zepeda has built up some solid wins, but I think Prograis is the better under pressure, and he can pull away in the later rounds for a points victory.
Bermudez defends world titles against Valle
Another world title clash on the card sees IBF and WBO minimumweight champion, Yokasta Valle (26-2, 9 KOs), attempt to take the same titles at light flyweight against unified champion, Evelin Nazarena Bermudez (17-0-1, 6 KOs).
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Prediction: Valle can become the new champion with a points win.
Jalolov meets Harper
2020 Olympic Gold medallist, Bakhodir Jalolov (11-0, 11 KOs) is also in action, and he should make it a dozen straight knockout wins with an early victory against Curtis Harper (14-8, 9 KOs), in a heavyweight contest set for ten.
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Remaining Undercard
Also scheduled for ten at super welterweight, Charles Conwell (17-0, 13 KOs) can win inside the distance against Juan Carlos Abreu (25-6-1, 23 KOs), and at lightweight Ruben Torres (19-0, 16 KOs) should stay unbeaten with a stoppage win against Eduardo Estela (13-1, 9 KOs).
The sole eight rounder comes at featherweight, where Nathan Rodriguez (9-0, 7 KOs) may need the cards to see off Jerson Ortiz (17-5, 8 KOs).
In six rounders, at welterweight, Mario Ramos (10-0, 8 KOs) should come through early against Geronimo Nahuel Sacco (10-6 1, 2 KOs) who has been stopped five times in six defeats.
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At super featherweight, Austin Brooks (8-0, 2 KOs) can outpoint Jesus Roman (8-5, 3 KOs), and at middleweight, Eric Priest (8-0, 6 KOs) can halt Luis Alberto Vera (11-21-2, 1 KO).
At super welterweight, Fernando Vargas (6-0, 6 KOs) can carry on his perfect record with an early win against Alejandro Martinez (3-2-1, 2 KOs), and at super lightweight, Alejandro Vargas (9-0, 5 KOs) should halt Daniel Perales Osorio (12-24-2, 6 KOs).
Jacob Macaololooy (3-0, 2 KOs) can take a points win against Terrance Jarmon (3-1, 1 KO) at welterweight.
