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William Zepeda posted on Instagram at present that he injured his left hand throughout his combat with Tevin Farmer final Saturday evening and has been suggested by docs to take “6 to 8 weeks of rest” to get well earlier than returning to the fitness center.
That damage will maintain #1 ranked contender Zepeda on the shelf till early 2025. At that time, he and his promoters at Golden Boy can search for one of many light-weight champions for him to problem. With Zepeda’s rankings with the 4 sanctioning our bodies, he has his decide of which champion to problem.
Unbeaten light-weight contender Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) had been thought-about the following challenger for WBC 135-lb champion Shakur Stevenson for February twenty second in Riyadh. Sadly, that’s not potential due to the damage.
Physician’s Orders
“After our last match [Tevin Farmer], we left with an injury to our left hand. We were preparing to return to the gym soon, but for medical evaluation, they recommended 6 to 8 weeks of rest for better recovery. For us, it is important to have this small break to benefit our career; we know that in 2025, great opportunities are coming, and we have to be 100%. After this recovery period, we would like to return at the end of March,” mentioned William Zepeda on Instagram at present.
Shakur is upset about shedding out on the Zepeda combat, but it surely’s good for him. The probabilities are excessive that he would lose to Zepeda, who, together with his excessive 100+ punch per spherical output, is on one other degree than the low-out Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs). Zepeda is a throwback fighter from the Eighties, one other Aaron Pryor kind of high-output fighter.
Pryor was extra of an arm puncher within the Artur Beterbiev mould. Zepeda throws with energy and by no means stops throwing, which is why he’s probably the most entertaining fighters within the sport and simply essentially the most pleasing to observe within the 135-lb division.
Informal followers seemingly have by no means seen or heard of Pryor, however the ultra-hardcore followers know of him, and he had a excessive work fee, identical to Zepeda. Pryor’s fights towards Alexis Arguello have been a legend, and Zepeda fights the identical manner, however he’s extra of a physique puncher.
Title Shot Postponed
Golden Boy Promotions president Eric Gomez confirmed final Saturday evening that Zepeda, 28, was injured and couldn’t take the combat with Shakur. He says Zepeda nonetheless desires that combat, however he can’t take it now.
Shakur’s followers are upset about Zepeda struggling an damage, however that’s simply the way it goes. He fought Tevin Farmer final Saturday, and he threw an enormous quantity of punches, a lot of them connecting. When a fighter lands as many onerous punches as Zepeda did in that combat, hand accidents occur.
Zepeda-Farmer Punch stats
– William Zepeda: 259 of 778 punches for a 33.3% join fee– Tevin Farmer: 193 of 587 for 32.9%.
When Zepeda returns from his damage, he can look towards WBA light-weight champion Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. His tentatively scheduled title protection towards Lamont Roach Jr. is March 1st. If it doesn’t get moved once more, Tank can get that out of the best way after which start negotiations for a combat with Zepeda.