Report: Update On Ivan Baranchyk vs. Jose Zepeda

Ivan Baranchyk vs. Jose Zepeda has a new date.

Baranchyk vs. Zepeda was expected to take place this summer. Baranchyk ended up suffering a rib injury that forced a delay. Fight fans won’t have to fret over this bout, however, as it has reportedly been rescheduled.

Mike Coppinger of The Athletic reports that Baranchyk vs. Zepeda will now be taking place on October 3.

Ivan Baranchyk and Jose Zepeda have agreed to a deal for a rescheduled 140-pound bout on Oct. 3 on an ESPN platform, sources tell @TheAthletic. The fight was originally slated for July 7 on ESPN before Baranchyk, a former champion, suffered a rib injury

— Mike Coppinger (@MikeCoppinger) August 27, 2020

Baranchyk last competed back on October 5, 2019. He defeated Gabriel Bracero via fourth-round TKO to capture the WBA Intercontinental Light-Welterweight Title. It was a nice rebound victory for Baranchyk as he was coming off a unanimous decision loss to Josh Taylor. This is the lone defeat in Baranchyk’s pro boxing career. Baranchyk was the IBF Light-Welterweight Champion at the time.

Zepeda hopes to ride the wave of momentum from his last two victories. He’s fresh off a unanimous decision win over Kendo Castaneda on July 7. Prior to that bout, he took a unanimous decision victory over Jose Pedraza. Zepeda has gone 2-0, 1 NC since his majority decision defeat to the undefeated WBC and WBO Light-Welterweight Champion Jose Ramirez.

Baranchyk vs. Zepeda is expected to be a WBC title eliminator. The winner would have a claim to fight the winner of Ramirez vs. Viktor Postol. Of course, with fight fans clamoring for Ramirez vs. Taylor if both men handle business in their next bouts, the winner of Baranchyk vs. Zepeda could find themselves waiting in the wings or fighting for vacant gold.