In a battle of southpaws, William Zepeda “El Camarón” (29-0; 25) is the favourite going into his fight with Maxi Hughes (26-6-2; 5) in a 12-round IBF and WBA lightweight title eliminator at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas on Saturday night.
The 34-year-old Hughes from Yorkshire, England, comes into the fight with enough experience but he is up against a knockout machine with an 86 per cent knockout ratio.
According to most pundits Hughes was robbed in his fight against George Kambosos Jr in what was a great performance by Hughes, but he will need more against the talented Zepeda.
Zepeda is being managed and groomed by former world champion Oscar De La Hoya who is now treating Zepeda as the “Golden Boy” after Canelo Alvarez left his promotion company.
Zepeda’s power will be too much for Hughes too pull off what could be a major upset.
One writer is predicting a sixth-round stoppage by Zepeda and most critics have made the same prediction.
The current lightweight champions are Shakur Stevenson (WBC), and Gervonta Davis (WBA), while the IBF and WBO titles are vacant.
Thabiso Mchunu to fight WBC silver title
South Africa’s Thabiso “The Rock” Mchunu (36 years old) is scheduled meet Yami Albert Peralta from Argentina for the vacant WBC silver cruiserweight title on 22 March at the Olive Convention Centre in Durban. Mchunu is currently rated at No 3 by the World Boxing Council.