When speaking with one Jonathan Cepeda, it becomes very clear that the undefeated junior middleweight prospect isn?t following the typical route to aspired stardom. Growing up rough in Jersey City, New Jersey, fighting was always something that came natural to Cepeda but it wasn?t until he was twenty years old that he took up the sport of boxing. But while some may look at it as a late start, it?s obvious that Cepeda?s upbringing in life served as his own baptism by fire, teaching him lessons along the way that still are ingrained in him. Having turned professional in November of 2008, Cepeda holds an 11-0 record with 10 knockouts and possesses and extremely crowd-pleasing style that could see him in boxing?s spotlight in the coming years.
I reached out to the 27-year old Cepeda recently and touched on a myriad of topics. Now living in Florida, Cepeda reflected on his early connection to his Dominican roots, his initial interest in the sport of boxing, learning from his new trainer John David Jackson, what it?s like being under Lou Dibella?s promotional umbrella, and much more.
