By Dan Ambrose: William Zepeda (29-0, 25 KOs) says he wants undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney next after his win over the always-tough Mercito Gesta (34-4-3, 17 KOs) on Saturday night.
Haney would be the guy for Zepeda to face to pick up his three remaining lightweight belts, but it seems like a fight with no hope of happening.
William demolished Gesta in six rounds on Saturday night at the Commerce Casino, Commerce, California. Referee Jack Reiss stopped it at 1:31, with Gesta getting battered to pieces by Zepeda against the ropes.
Zepeda threw an enormous amount of punches tonight through six rounds, 618 in total, and he was impossible for Gesta to deal with.
It wasn’t that Zepeda was throwing with enormous power because Gesta’s shots were equally hard, but it was the volume that was what made him so dangerous.
The 35-year-old Gesta looked spent most of the fight with his back against the ropes, which was an odd move given his experience, but he didn’t have the youth, power, or mobility to stay in the center of the ring.
Zepeda feels he’s ready to fight for a world title now, and Haney has all four belts, so he’s the obvious choice at 135 for the 27-year-old Golden Boy-promoted fighter to face next.
Haney (30-0, KOs) is supposed to be fighting WBC light welterweight champion Regis Prograis next on December 9th. If Haney wins that fight, he probably won’t return to 135 unless he can get a mega-payday against Gervonta Davis.
“I am ready for Devin Haney,” said William Zepeda immediately after halting Mercito Gesta in the sixth round on Saturday night.
“Thank you for Gesta and Golden Boy. I wanted an experienced fighter, and he gave that to me; I’m going to keep going on my way to be a champion,” said Zepeda.
We won’t know for a while when Zepeda will get a title shot, but it would be a miracle if it were Haney. There are some tough guys in the weight class that would give Zepeda a lot to think about, but not sure if any of them will choose to face him after this performance.
Zepeda is one of those fighters that is more trouble than he is worth because he’s not a PPV attraction in the U.S., and he has a lot of power and a high work rate that makes him not worth fighting.
“Also, in the first round, I knew he was a dangerous fighter, and I knew I had to keep on working,” said Zepeda.
HEART OF WARRIORS
What a fight! #ZepedaGesta @DAZNBoxing pic.twitter.com/LFiPDznS5u
— Golden Boy (@GoldenBoyBoxing) September 17, 2023