Jose Zepeda lethargically cruises by Hank Lundy on Taylor-Ramirez undercard

Jose Zepeda might have spoiled the plans of Jose Ramirez and Josh Taylor, as a result of he may have knocked out the viewing viewers by placing them to sleep earlier than the primary occasion Saturday night time at Virgin Accommodations Las Vegas.

What a distinction a struggle makes.

The final time Zepeda fought he placed on some of the riveting performances in years. He was knocked down 4 instances—and gained. For the primary time in seven months, Zepeda, one half of The Ring’s and BWAA’s 2020 Combat of the 12 months with Ivan Baranchyk, acquired a little bit of a softer contact this time round in shopworn Philadelphia southpaw Hank Lundy.

Zepeda did what he was purported to do, dispatching Lundy, a late, three-week alternative for the Nevada State Athletic Fee refused Pedro Campa, by a snug, although uninspiring 10-round choice within the co-feature of the Ramirez-Taylor 140-pound unification title struggle.

It marked the third-straight victory for the junior welterweight southpaw Zepeda (34-2, 26 knockouts), blended in with a no-contest in Might 2019, since he misplaced his problem to WBC junior welterweight titlist Jose Ramirez in February 2019. The 37-year-old Lundy (31-9-1, 14 KOs) misplaced for the third time in his final 5 fights.

Within the third spherical, Lundy appeared to knockdown Zepeda, however referee Celestino Ruiz referred to as it a slip. In any other case, Lundy’s legs appeared stiff and he actually posed no hazard to Zepeda.

However Zepeda should still want time to get well from the Baranchyk struggle. He appeared tentative towards somebody that he ought to have walked by way of. Sporting a minimize on his proper eye, he stayed outdoors and appeared gun shy.

Nonetheless, Zepeda was firmly in management.

Judges Glenn Feldman, Lisa Giampa and Patricia Morse Jarman noticed it likewise, 98-92, for Zepeda.

Kenneth Sims Jr. pulled off a significant upset over Elvis Rodriguez (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures).

Southpaw Kenneth Sims Jr. was holding his personal within the early portion of his eight-round junior welterweight bout with extremely touted Elvis Rodriguez (11-1-1, 10 KOs), en path to an enormous upset victory by majority choice.

Sims gained on the scorecards of Eric Cheek and Max DeLuca, who rightfully had it 78-74, whereas decide Chris Migliore someway noticed it 76-76. It was the third-straight victory for Sims (16-2-1, 5 KOs) since dropping to Samuel Teah in 2018.

Utilizing mixture punching, switching up from left to proper, counter punching and touchdown straight rights and proper hooks, Sims appeared to confuse Rodriguez, who when down late fought with no urgency.

Featherweight Jose Enrique Vivas (21-1, 11 KOs) gained his fourth straight with an eight-round choice over Louie Coria (12-4, 7 KOs).

Robeisy Ramirez is victorious over Ryan Lee Allen (Photograph by Mikey Williams/High Rank Inc by way of Getty Pictures)

Junior light-weight Andres Cortes (14-0, 7 KOs) gained a unanimous eight-round choice over Eduardo Garza (15-4-1, 8 KOs).

Heralded Olympian Robeisy Ramirez (7-1, 4 KOs) gained for the seventh-straight time with a six-round featherweight choice over Ryan Lee Allen (10-5-1, 5 KOs).

Raymond Muratalla (12-0, 10 KOs) stopped Jose Gallegos (20-11, 15 KOs) at 1:40 of the fifth spherical of a scheduled eight-round junior welterweight struggle. In a scheduled six-round middleweight struggle, Javier Martinez (4-0, 2 KOs) stopped Calvin Metcalf (10-6-1, 3 KOs) at 1:33 of the fourth spherical.

“I’m enthusiastic about that knockout,” Martinez stated. “Going into the struggle, I used to be searching for a knockout as he was by no means stopped in 16 bouts. I did my factor, and I’m glad I acquired him on the market. I get used to the professional model, and the sky is the restrict. I’m seeking to get again someday in August.”

Joseph Santoliquito is an award-winning sportswriter who has been working for Ring Journal/RingTV.com since October 1997 and is the president of the Boxing Writers Affiliation of America. He will be adopted on twitter @JSantoliquito.