Is Jose Zepeda Vs. Ivan Baranchyk Still A Possibility?

Looking to get back to fighting for titles, Jose Zepeda wouldn’t mind a detour fight that could help cement his status as one of boxing’s top figures.

Zepeda (31-2, 2NC) was originally supposed to face Ivan Baranchyk today, July 7 from inside the MGM Grand Conference Center in Las Vegas. An injury to his ribs forced him out of the bout, and now Zepeda will face Kendo Castaneda. Two top fighters in the junior-welterweight division, Zepeda is not dismissing the challenge ahead. However, he will look forward to the day they will eventually compete against one another.

“We’re ready for Baranchyk,” Zepeda stated to Boxing Scene. “I know that fight, a lot of people were looking forward to it. We’re top contenders, and I thought that whoever won that fight was gonna go for a title. And I believe it can still happen. He got hurt. I don’t know if anybody knows how serious it was, but hopefully he’s OK and we can reschedule it. After this fight, if everything goes good, obviously, I can fight Baranchyk within the next two months. I don’t mind.”

Zepeda (31-2, 2NC) is 1-1 in his last three fights with one no-contest. He last fought in September, beating Jose Pedraza via unanimous decision. The 31-year-old is looking to get back into title contention following a loss to WBC Light-Welterweight Champion Jose Ramirez in February 2019.

Baranchyk (20-1) lost his first professional fight in May 2019 against Josh Taylor. For the IBF Super-Lightweight Title, Taylor won via unanimous decision after Baranchyk was knocked down twice. He rebounded last October against Gabriel Bracero, winning via TKO. The 27-year-old has 13 wins via knockout.

Even if he has to wait a while to face him, Zepeda can just imagine how he would be able to do against Baranchyk.

“I would box him all day, for the 10 rounds or 12 rounds, whatever it would be,” Zepeda went on to say. “I was able to do that with [Jose] Ramirez for six rounds and then the 11th, I believe. But this time, I was gonna come a hundred percent. I was gonna be able to do that for 10 or 12 rounds. I was a hundred-percent ready. He wasn’t gonna be able to get me with a big punch, I don’t think so.”

The Zepeda v. Castaneda main card will be live at 8 p.m. ET tonight on ESPN.