Tim Bradley was disillusioned in what he witnessed from William Zepeda, with him getting dropped and struggling to defeat Tevin Farmer final Saturday evening in Riyadh.
(Credit score: Golden Boy/Cris Esqueda)
Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) gained the battle by a 10-round break up resolution however was dropped within the fourth by a clear left hand that the counter-puncher Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) hit him with. There was no query that Zepeda deserved the win as a result of he had landed many extra punches and worn Farmer down with physique pictures.
The judges didn’t give Zepeda credit score for the physique pictures, so the scores have been nearer than they need to have been. Farmer was badly outworked and overwhelmed by the physique punching from Zepeda. Bradley says Zepeda should change his combating type to turn into extra defensive-minded and a world champion.
Zepeda is 28 years outdated and has been combating the identical approach his complete skilled profession. He’s recognized for averaging over 100 punches thrown per spherical, and that type has made him common.
“In case your protection is trash, you’re not going to final lengthy within the enterprise, and also you’re not going to be that champion that you simply need to be,” stated Tim Bradley on his Web discussion board, reacting to William Zepeda’s win over Tevin Farmer.
“Zepeda, come on. I perceive your offense is your protection, however you’re getting knocked down by Farmer, who’s probably not a puncher? That claims loads about your future as a result of they’ve guys that thump at 135 lbs. Muratalla, come on. He thumps. Keyshawn Davis, he can punch. Gervonta Davis, he’d have put you in a physique bag.
“De La Hoya, you’ve acquired your palms full. You’re going to should handle this man the suitable approach as a result of if he can’t outwork his opposition, I’m rattling certain he can’t outskill him. All the opposite guys I simply talked about have extra expertise.”
If Zepeda adjustments his type to be extra of a boxer, is profession will go down the drain. He and his trainers clearly know that which is why he fights the way in which he does. It’s the one type that may work for him, nevertheless it’s fairly efficient, and he could also be a adequate one for him to beat Shakur Stevenson.
“He’s going to battle, I promise you. I’ve been saying this about his protection,” stated Bradley.
If Zepeda adjustments his combating type to be extra defensive-minded, he gained’t win fights as a result of he’s not an enormous puncher. As we noticed final Saturday evening, Farmer had extra energy than Zepeda, and he’s not a puncher.
The one approach Zepeda will get knockouts and turns into common is thru his quantity punching. If you happen to take that away, he’s not going to go anyplace within the sport and can lose in opposition to the better-skilled fighters and those with superior energy.
Bradley needs Zepeda to rework himself right into a defensive wizard, which is inconceivable for him to do. Even when he might, it might make the Mexican fighter commonplace and harm his recognition.
What Bradley fails to notice is the game has modified within the final seven years, veering away from the boring defensive Mayweather sorts to the extra entertaining brawling fighters. What followers need to see now are fighters like Zepeda, not ones like Shakur Stevenson or his clone, Tevin Farmer.
Apparently, Bradley compares himself to Zepeda, saying his protection was higher throughout his profession than his, and makes use of his battle with boxing nice Juan Manuel Marquez for example. Bradley states that he outboxed Marquez to beat him by a 12-round break up resolution on October 12, 2013. What Bradley fails to say is that Marquez was 40 and he was 30.
The fact is, Bradley’s protection was by no means higher than Zepeda’s. He took lots of punishment throughout his profession, dropping to Manny Pacquiao twice, and getting fortunate with a present resolution in opposition to him and Ruslan Provodnikov.
