Jose Zepeda stopped Ivan Baranchyk in round five of a classic eight-knockdown fight that each guy hit the deck four times. The fight was a junior lightweight elimination bout at The MGM Grand Cinference Center in Las Vegas,
In round one, Baranchyk dropped Zepeda with a hard right over the top. Towards the end of the round Baranchyk sent Zepeda down for a 2nd time with a right hand that was followed by a left hook. In round two, Zepeda dropped Baranchyk with a left hand. Baranchyk came right back and sent Zepeda down for a 3rd time with his own hard right. In round three, Zepeda put Baranchyk down for a 2nd time with a left over the top. In round four, Zepeda drilled Baranchyk with a hard straight left that made the former champion fall on his back. In round five, Baranchyk landed a hard right that sent Zepeda into the corner for which referee Kenny Bayless ruled the corner post held him up. It was seconds later where Zepeda landed a right hook that followed by a short left hand that knocked Baranchyk out on his feet. Baranchyk buckled over his knee and was out cold for several minutes until he was able to get to his feet. The end came at 2:20.
Zepeda, 139.9 lbs of Le Puente, CA is 33-2 with 26 knockouts. Baranchyk, 139.6 lbs of Miami, FL is 20-2.
Zepeda said, “I feel great because I won the fight. It was a hard fight, and I’m thinking, ‘Man, boxing is hard. It’s no easy game.’ Boxing, it’s tough, and you have to give it 100 percent because it’s a hard sport.
“Both of us are climbing up, and somebody had to stay. I was able to win the fight, and I told him, ‘Thanks for the fight. It was a great fight.’
“I know I’m tough. I didn’t know how tough I was. Tonight, I showed myself, too. I’ve never been in a fight like this. It was a great learning experience.”
Flores decisions Kielczweski
Gabriel Flores Jr. remained undefeated by winning a 10-round unanimous decision over Ryan Kielczweski in a lightweight bout.
Flores outlanded Kielczweski 127-73.
Flores, 130.7 lbs of Stockton, CA won by scores of 100-90, 99-91 and 98-92 and is now 19-0. Kielczweski, 131 lbs of Quincy, MA is 30-5.
Flores said, “{I was not} buzzed at all. Not buzzed at all. I was a little bit off balance on my heel, which is rare. I’m always on my toes.
“I gotta stay in the pocket more. I need to stay on myself to stay in the pocket. I’m in the pocket landing shots, and then I feel like, ‘I’m bored here.’”
Vianello and Ibeh battle to a Draw
Kingsley Ibeh and undefeated Guido Vianello battled to a six-round majority draw in a heavyweight bout.
Vianello was cut in round two over his left eye. Ibeh was cut over gis right eye in the final round.
The scores read 59-55 for Ibeh and 57-57 twice.
Ibeh, 276.8 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 5-1-1. Vianello, 238.7 lbs of Rome, ITA is 7-0-1.
Ragan decisions Moraga
Duke Ragan won a four-round unanimous decision over John Moraga in a featherweight bout.
In round three, Ragan was cut over his right eye.
Ragan outlanded Moraga 53-29.
Ragan, 126.4 lbs of Cincinnati, OH won by scores of 40-36 on all cards, and is 2-0. Moraga, 127.7 lbs of Phoenix, AZ is 1-2.
Frevian Gonzalez remained undefeated with a four round majority decision over Carlos Marrero III in a junior lightweight bout.
Gonzalez, 131.8 lbs of Cidro, PR won by scores of 40-36 twice and 38-38 to raise his mark to 4-0. Marrero, 130.5 lbs of Bridgeport, CT is 2-4-1.
Mitchell Sipe stopped Jimmy Barnes in the opening seconds of their four-round heavyweight bout.
In a wild opening seconds, Sipe dropped Barnes with a hard combination. Barnes, who clearly has not had boxing training ate more hard shots until the fight was mercifully stopped at 43 seconds.
Sipe, 248.9 lbs of Bakersfield, CA is 1-0 with one knockout. Barnes, 290.6 lbs of Pine City, MN is 1-1.
Haven Brady Jr. made a successful pro debut by stopping Gorwar Karyah in the 4th and final round of their featherweight bout.
In round Round two, Brady was deducted a point for a low blow.
In round four, Karyah was deducted a point for holding. Later in the round, Brady continued to land some hard power shots, and the fight was stopped with Karyah on the ropes at 2:27.
Brady, 125.9 lbs of Albany, GA is 1-0 with one knockout. Karyah, 124 lbs of Philadelphia is 2-2.
JJ Mariano stopped Matthew Reed in the opening round of their scheduled four-round welterweight bout.
Mariano dropped Reed. Reed was hurt and Mariano hurt him in the corner and the fight was stopped at 1:27.
Mariano, 144 lbs of Reno, NV is 3-0 with two knockouts. Reed, 149.6 lbs of Bakersfield, CA is 1-1.
