By Ken Hissner: At the College Park Center, Arlington, Texas, Saturday over DAZN Oscar De La Hoya (Golden Boy Promotions) presented in Main Event WBA Continental Americas Lightweight champion WBA ranked No. 8 William Zepeda scoring three knockdowns stopping Jaime Arboleda in two rounds.
In co-feature, Diego De La Hoya was stopped by Victor Fernando Morales, Jr., in two rounds. Estevan Villalobos lost an unpopular decision to Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson.
In the Main Event, WBA Continental Americas Lightweight champion ranked No. 8 southpaw William Zepeda, 28-0 (24), #134.2, of San Mateo Atenco, MEX, scored three knockdowns stopping Jaime Arboleda, 19-3 (14), #134.6, of Curundu, PAN, at 2:16 of the second round of a scheduled ten rounds.
In the first round, it was all Zepeda forcing Arboleda to backpedal the entire round. In the second round, a left to the body from Zepeda and down went Arboleda for an 8-count from Referee Ruben Perez. Upon rising, Arboleda was dropped a second time with another body shot left for an 8-count. Upon rising, Arboleda was overwhelmed by Zepeda being dropped a third time with a body shot as Referee Perez counted him out.
In Co-Feature Featherweight, Diego De La Hoya, 24-2 (11), #126, of Mexicali, Baja California, MEX, was stopped by Victor Fernando Morales, Jr., 18-0-1 (9), #125 ½, of Vancouver, WA, at 1:08 of the second round of a scheduled ten rounds, for vacant WBA Inter-Continental title.
In the first round, there was plenty of action from both boxers, with Morales having an edge. In the second round, after thirty seconds, a left hook from Morales on the chin and down went De La Hoya for an 8-count from Referee Rosario Solis. De La Hoya tried fighting back bleeding from the mouth half a minute later when another left hook dropped him to his knees as he crawled several feet before rising from an 8-count as the referee called a halt.
Super Welter late sub Estevan “Manos De Oro” Villalobos, 16-2-1 (12), #152, of Mt. Vernon, WA, lost an unpopular decision to former WBC Int’l Silver champ Fredrick “General Okunka” Lawson, 30-3 (22), #149, of Accra, GH, Worcester, MASS., over ten rounds.
In the first three rounds, both had their moments, as Villalobos was the aggressor and Lawson the counterpuncher. In the fourth and fifth rounds, Villalobos turning southpaw at times, landed the heavier punches backing up Lawson the entire fight so far.
The sixth through the eighth rounds were big ones for Villalobos driving Lawson around the ring with power shots though getting a cut inside the left eye late in the eighth round with Lawson on landing jabs though effective.
In the ninth round, Villalobos continued trying for the stoppage as Lawson used an effective jab. In the tenth and final rounds final minute Villalobos almost had Lawson down, landing well to the head as Lawson did his best to survive. The Referee was Neal Young.
Scores were 96-94 twice and 97-93 Lawson and 98-92 Villalobos KH.
Super Middle “Dynamite” David Stevens, 13-0 (9), #168, of Reading, PA, defeated in a close fight Marco Antonio Periban, 26-7-1 (17), #167 ¼, of Mexico City, MEX, who scored a knockdown over 8 rounds.
In the first round, no feeling out as both opened up as 38-year-old Periban used mostly a jab and Stevens looked to land in any part of the body, throwing more effective punches after half a round.
In the second round, Stevens scored solid left hooks to the chin of Periban a minute into the round and halfway through the round. Periban finished the final half-minute landing well.
In the third round, a check left hook from Periban and Stevens’s knee hit the canvas for an 8-count from Referee Ruben Perez.
In the fifth round, Stevens opened up for half a round, hurting Periban, who came back well in the final minute. Even fight so far. In the sixth round, with a minute remaining, Stevens landed a good left hook to the body, hurting Periban, who came back well.
In the seventh round, the taller Periban used his jab well, as the 22-year-old Stevens looking for a stoppage doesn’t look so fresh.
In the eighth and final round, Stevens may have pulled out of the round and the fight, but the knockdown could be a major factor in the fight. This was the first round there were clinches, two.
Scores were 78-73 twice and 77-74 and 77-75 KH
Ring Announcer Jerimiah Gallegos