October third in the Bubble at the MGM Grand on ESPN+. WBC light welterweight eliminator; the prize is a crack at José Carlos Ramírez (in Zepeda's case, a rematch) in early 2021. Zepeda is ranked WBC #2 and Baranchyk is #6. (Zepeda is also WBO #3 whose top fifteen excludes Baranchyk, and Baranchyk is IBF #4, but Zepeda is unranked by them) Previously this pair had been scheduled to meet in July. Zepeda has two losses to Baranchyk's one, and the latter has the most forgivable defeat to probably the best opponent either has fought (Josh Taylor) but the Mexican southpaw has nonetheless probably had the more impressive overall form in their respective careers.
Sadly I think Baranchyk will throttle Zepeda senseless after the 6t round and stop him in 10. With the exception of Taylor... Ivan has a fairly decent track record when it comes to pummelling southpaws. Yeah, Ivan got dropped and hurt by Abel Ramos, but guess what, so would Zepeda if he was being as reckless as Ivan was that night. By the way, I say this without even a hint of joy, I'd much rather see Zepeda walk away with the win here.
Baracheyk should win comfortably with a late stoppage. One of the sports better pressure fighters ATM.
I'm fully on Team Chon - and not just because I, like @CST80, like him a lot more. Baranchyk has always been overrated IMO. Going the distance with TTT just signifies that he's tough, not that he's good (and Zepeda isn't a KO artist so toughness isn't that relevant here; versus a crafty experience lefty, skill is. ...and to my eyes the Belarusian tops out at like B+ level skill, if that)
Perish the thought...that would mean pressure fighting is a dying art. Baranchyk's maybe Zewski level. Which isn't an insult necessarily, and isn't to say either is a bad pressure fighter by any means...they're okay.
Quite looking forward to this one.. Still don't know which way I'm leaning... Zepeda points or baranchyk late ko... Won't be able to watch it til it's on YouTube sadly
Im thinking zepeda will be able to take what baranchyk can dish out n win on points but at 8-1 for a baranchyk stoppage rounds 7-12 I couldn't resist
