Notebook: Zepeda stands between Smith and the next level
Roach making plans for first defense; Okolie lands title shot; Charr injured, fight off; Adames update; Quick hits; Show and tell
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British junior welterweight Dalton Smith has been viewed by many as a future star and a world champion in waiting, but he has yet to face a world class opponent.
Now he gets that chance in what is a major step up in opposition against longtime contender and three-time world title challenger Jose Zepeda, who Smith will face in the 12-round main event of the Matchroom Boxing card on Saturday (DAZN, 3 p.m. ET) at Utilita Arena in Sheffield, England, Smith’s hometown.
Although Zepeda is 1-2 in his previous three fights, he gave Regis Prograis a rough battle in an 11th-round knockout loss for the vacant WBC title in November 2022, rebounded with a decision against Neeraj Goyat last March and then lost a shutout decision to fast-rising Richard Hitchins in September.
He lost a heavily disputed split decision to Jose Ramirez for the WBC title in 2019 but owns a decision over former two-division titleholder Jose Pedraza; knocked out former titlist Ivan Baranchyk in the fifth round of the blazing 2020 fight of the year; and went to the home turf in New York to fight heavily hyped Josue Vargas and drilled him in the first round in 2021.
Perhaps Zepeda, 34, a southpaw from La Puente, California, whose first title shot resulted in a second-round stoppage loss to then-lightweight titlist Terry Flanagan due to a dislocated shoulder in Manchester, England, in 2017, is past his best days. But he is by far the most significant foe of Smith’s career and Smith is affording him that sort of respect.
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