Zepeda Crushes Gesta In Dominant Performance - Pound4Pound.com

Zepeda Crushes Gesta In Dominant Performance

By Albert Castillo
Photos: William Trillo

From the Commerce Casino and Hotel in Commerce, California, Golden Boy Productions put together an excellent 9 fight boxing card. A full house crowd of standing room only witnessed William, “El Camaron” Zepeda (29-0, 25 KO’s) put the hurt on Mercito, “No Mercy” Gesta for the WBA Continental Americas lightweight title.

Zepeda’s immense, unrelenting pressure on Gesta was too much for the Philippine former champion. Gesta attempted to ward off Zepeda’s attack but even a sharp testy uppercut that caught Zepeda cleanly on the chin could not stop “El Camaron”. Rapid successive combinations had Gesta covering up throughout the fight as Zepeda backed him up into every corner in the ring. Gesta’s toughness was his own worst enemy as he refused to go down.

When Gesta had no answer for Zepeda’s onslaught, Gesta’s corner waved off the fight at 1:31 of the 6th round. “I am ready for the big fights out there – whether it be Devin Haney or even a Shakur Stevenson. Those are the guys who have the belts and that’s what I want next,” said William Zepeda. “There are incredible fights for me in my division, and I trust that Golden Boy will do what they can to get me to become a World Champion. I am ready to go home, rest and recover peacefully at home.”

Featherweights Victor Morales (19-0-1 9 KO’s) and Edwin Palomares (18-5-2, 9 KO’s) battled for 10 rounds for the Inter-Continental Featherweight Title. Morales rapid fire combinations proved to be too much for the game Palomares who bloodied Morales in the 6th round. Morales punctuated his win in the tenth round by throwing a ton of unanswered punches that had referee Corona almost stopping the fight.

Referee’s scorecards read 100-90, 99-91, and 96-94 all in favor of Morales as he retains his title. In reality the fight was as close as the last score indicates. “I hoped I showed Oscar and the team tonight that I am a warrior in the ring, and I can push through anything,” said Victor Morales Jr. “I am happy we get to take our belt back home with us.”

In the Minimumweight Championship Title fight , Champion Yokasta Valle (29-2, 9 KO’s) retained her title with a dominating performance over Maria Santizo (11-4, 6 KO’s). Valle clipped Santizo with a right or left hand in nearly every round. Santizo put forth a gallant effort but came up short against the champion. Judges had Valle pitching a near shutout with scores of 100-90, 99-91, and 99-91.

“I knew she was going to bring everything,” said Yokasta Valle. “She was training in Los Angeles to get incredible sparring and I knew she was well prepared for our fight. I am going to take a week off and enjoy the Costa Rican beaches and get back to training so I can be ready to fight on November 4 no matter who the opponent is.”

Up and comer Eric Priest (11-0, 7 KO’s) outworked and out landed a tough Simon Madsen (13-2, 10 KO’s). For most of the fight the pugilists fought in close quarters choosing to exchange left hooks and right hands.

Judges’ scorecards seemed to indicate that the fight was a tough one to score as one judge had it even at 76-76 while another had it for Priest, 80-72. The final judge had it right 79-73 which gave Priest the majority decision. Priest remains undefeated.

Darius Fulghum (7-0, 7 KO’s) overwhelmed an overmatched Ricardo Luna (25-11-2, 16 KO’s) and after a barrage of punches and Luna falling down in a heap, Luna’s corner put a stop to the action.

The fight was called at 1:30 of the second round. Fulghum remains perfect with 7 fights, 7 knockouts.

Alejandro, “Pin Pon” Reyes (11-0, 5 KO’s) pounded out a majority decision over Roberto Gomez, 5-2, 5 KO’s). The fight was close and one judge saw it even. Both fighters were in top condition and slugged it out until the end of the last round.

Pin Pon connected with a few more combinations to earn him the decision and to remain undefeated. Judges’ scorecards read 57-57, 58-56, 59-55 to give Reyes the majority decision.

Daniel Garcia (7-0, 5 KO’s) out of Denver Colorado outpointed a tough, wild swinging Erick Benitez from Guadalajara, Mexico. (4-5, 1 KO). Although Garcia was clipped a few times he remained composed and dished out many hard hitting combinations.

He pressed Benitez throughout the fight connecting with crisp right hands. The fight was closer than the cards indicate but Garcia was the clear winner. Final judges scores saw it all for Garcia 60-54, 60-54, and 60-54.

In this four round super banty match up, Gael Cabrera (2-0, 1 KO) out of Sonora , Mexico won a unanimous decision over Nicaraguan, Juan Centeno (8-10-3, 1 KO). Centeno came out aggressive but was returned with greater force as Cabrera quickly shook the aggressiveness out of Centeno with quick combinations, and a fierce left hand to the body.

Cabrera’s footwork, speed, and power were too much for Centeno. Judges scored it all for Cabrera 40-36, 40-36, and 40-36. Cabrera shows high potential and we look forward to seeing him again.

In the opening bout of the evening Jordan Cervantes (1-0) of East Los Angeles earned his first win in his professional debut with a unanimous decision over Texan Giovanny Meza (0-5). All of the judges scorecards read 40-36.