- Zepeda Vs. Hughes: The action kicks off at 8 p.m. ET / 12 a.m. UK sharp, the main event ringwalks are slated for 11 p.m. ET / 3 a.m UK
- Catch all the action streaming live on DAZN, available in over 200 countries worldwide.
Unbeaten lightweight contenders William Zepeda and Maxi Hughes will battle in a twelve-round IBF & WBA 135-lb title eliminator on March 16th, live on DAZN at The Chelsea at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas.
Zepeda-Hughes is a contest that will allow both guys to showcase their talent. The winner will be mandatory for the IBF and WBA lightweight titles.
Zepeda, the Golden Boy Prodigy
The Golden Boy-promoted Zepeda (29-0, 25 KOs) is expected to be the favorite due to his punching power, ultra-high volume punching style, and youth, but you can’t count out the slick boxer Hughes (26-5-2, 5 KOs), who many boxing fans believe deserved a victory in his last fight against George Kambosos Jr. in July of 2023.
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya believes the 27-year-old Zepeda is a future world champion and star in the 135-lb division. What’s held Zepeda back thus far is his lack of high-level opposition.
He’s not faced any of the talented fighters in the lightweight division to get the opportunity to prove himself, guys like Shakur Stevenson, Frank Martin, Vasily Lomachenko, and Raymond Muratalla.
“Zepeda is a wrecking ball every time he steps into the ring — and with a title shot hanging in the balance, fans are going to be in for an offensive barrage from “El Camarón,” said Oscar De La Hoya. “Maxi Hughes has been in with the best of the best, and if Zepeda gets past him, the sky’s the limit.”
Hughes, the Crafty Veteran
Maxi Hughes’ record is deceiving. He’s an amazing talent who has continually improved over the years to become one of the best fighters in the 135-lb division. As I mentioned, fans feel Hughes was given a raw deal in his last fight against Kambosos Jr.
Hughes gave the Australian a boxing lesson, dominating him with precise punches from outside and rarely getting hit in that fight. The judges gave Kambosos a victory by a twelve-round majority decision, but this writer had it 11-1 for Hughes. It wasn’t close.
If Hughes fights the way he did against Kambosos, he will defeat Zepeda and make him look bad. Zepeda needs his opponents to be stationary to do well, and Hughes isn’t going to be that kind of fighter.
Zepeda vs. Hughes fight card
- William Zepeda vs. Maxi Hughes; Lightweight
- Floyd Schofield vs. Esteuri Suero; Lightweight
- Eric Priest vs. Jose Sanchez; Middleweight
- Tristan Kalkreuth vs. Marquice Weston; Cruiserweight
