William Zepeda offered trigger for celebration on his nation’s greatest vacation.
The unbeaten contender overwhelmed former title challenger Mercito Gesta en path to a sixth-round stoppage atop a Mexican Independence Day-themed present. The 27-year-old southpaw from San Mateo Atenco, Mexico overwhelmed the San Diego-based Filipino from the beginning and compelled the stoppage at 1:31 of spherical six of their DAZN-aired major occasion Saturday night from Commerce On line casino in Commerce, California.
Gesta by no means confirmed worry at any level within the struggle and supplied a world class chin for a lot of it. Zepeda didn’t waste any time to unleash his usually high-octane offense, apart from a short break when his mouthpiece was dislodged halfway by means of the spherical. He instantly minimize off the ring to pin down Gesta and take away any likelihood of lateral motion from the Filipino southpaw.
Zepeda unloaded in spherical two and by no means actually turned again. Gesta spent a lot of the body pinned to the ropes as Zepeda landed proper hooks and left arms nearly at will. The ultimate 30 seconds of the spherical noticed Zepeda throw and land a barrage of energy punches as Gesta was trapped however in a position to depend on his world class chin.
The identical sample held true in spherical three, after which level Zepeda already landed 158 whole punches. Gesta was in a position to take pleasure in modest success in singular moments throughout spherical 4 in a determined try and decelerate the relentless Zepeda.
Blood started to move from a minimize beneath Gesta’s proper eye in spherical 5. The wound was the least regarding matter amongst his staff, as Gesta appeared to have the struggle overwhelmed out of him. Zepeda landed a crushing proper uppercut earlier than he continued to batter Gesta with energy punches at an otherworldly clip.
Referee Jack Reiss and the ringside physician each gave Gesta a protracted arduous look in between rounds. Head coach Marvin Somodio already had ideas about stopping the struggle however wished to gauge his fighter’s physique language and maybe give him another shot.
Zepeda made that call a straightforward one for everybody concerned.
Gesta tried to show the tide early in spherical six however it didn’t take. Zepeda dug hooks and left arms to the physique which utterly broke down Gesta and left him unable to flee from hurt’s approach. The Filipino coated up and sat on the ropes as Zepeda continued along with his two-fisted assault. Gesta’s nook climbed the ring apron simply as Reiss waved his arms to cease the competition.
The loss ended a three-fight unbeaten streak for Gesta, who fell to 34-4-3 (17KOs). The 2-time title challenger had by no means been dominated to this diploma, in a struggle he entered on the heels of an enormous upset win over former IBF junior light-weight titlist Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz on March 18 in Lengthy Seashore, California. At age 35, the San Diego-based boxer now has a tough resolution to make in regards to the course of his boxing profession.
Zepeda stormed to 29-0 (25KOs) with the win, his second of the yr and with a serious title struggle effectively inside his sights.
Jake Donovan is a senior author for BoxingScene.com. Twitter: @JakeNDaBox