Philippines, 12 Sep 2025
  Home >> News

 


BOXERS

CURRENT CHAMPIONS 

FORMER CHAMPIONS   

RATINGS                       

NEWS           

FORUM        

FIGHT GALLERIES        

RING CARD GIRLS        


 
 
News  


Instant KO: Jose Zepeda Starches Josue Vargas in 1

PhilBoxing.com





Jonas Sultan upsets Carlos Caraballo in co-feature

NEW YORK (Oct. 30, 2021) – After a scuffle at Friday's weigh-in and choice words at Thursday's press conference, Jose "Chon" Zepeda did not waste time getting to work Saturday evening. Zepeda iced Josue "The Prodigy" Vargas at 1:45 of the opening round at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden, stunning the Bronx product in front of the home crowd. Zepeda retained his WBC Silver 140-pound belt and kept himself in the world title picture.

Early in the round, the southpaw Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) countered Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) with a left hand that plastered him to the canvas face first. Vargas rose gingerly, but blood was in the water. Zepeda unloaded on Vargas, who took a host of unanswered punches against the ropes and crumpled to the canvas. Referee David Fields waved off the one-sided traffic, and Zepeda had the grudge match victory.

“I was ready. I was 100 percent ready, and I told him in the press conference there’s levels to this. He was the one who wanted to fight me. I just accepted the fight, and it showed today that boxing is not a game in there. There’s levels to this," Zepeda said. “I told him, and he probably knew I hit hard. I don’t think he recovered after that shot.”

Vargas said, “He caught me with a good left hand, and I tried to recover, but I think I got up too fast. That’s what happened. Overall, I’m OK. I’m good. I’m healthy. We’re not stopping from here. It’s on to the next.

“I learned from my disqualification loss, and now I learned from my second loss.”

Zepeda is now unbeaten in six fights since his controversial decision loss to Jose Ramirez. Josh Taylor now rules the 140-pounders as the undisputed champion, but Zepeda once again etched his name among the division's top contenders.

“I’m 32 years old, and I’m in my prime," Zepeda said. "I want the WBC world title and all the belts, to be honest. I’m ready for it. I showed today I’m ready for the WBC world title.”



Sultan Stuns Caraballo

Filipino veteran Jonas Sultan (18-5, 11 KOs) did not read the script. The former world title challenger spoiled the New York debut of Carlos Caraballo (14-1, 14 KOs), knocking the Puerto Rican contender down four times en route to a 10-round unanimous decision in the bantamweight co-feature. All three judges scored the fight 94-93 for Sultan, who knocked down Caraballo in the second, sixth and ninth rounds. The two traded knockdowns in the third, with Caraballo landing a glancing blow as the bell sounded.

Sultan said, “This is boxing. This is war. And I came to win tonight. Caraballo is a tough man, but I wanted this one.”

In other action:

Carlos Jackson (18-1, 11 KOs) upset former junior featherweight world champion Jonathan Guzman (24-2, 23 KOs) by eight-round split decision. In a tactical affair, the judges preferred the steady pressure of Jackson (scores: 78-74 Jackson, 77-75 Jackson and 77-75 Guzman). Jackson had a 48-39 advantage in power punches landed.

Junior welterweights Dakota Linger (12-5-3, 8 KOs) and Mathew Gonzalez (12-0-1, 8 KOs) threw down for six rounds. The judges could not split the two, and after a firefight for the ages, New York City native Gonzalez held on to his unbeaten record with a majority draw (scores: 58-56 Gonzalez and 57-57 2x). Gonzalez controlled the early rounds, but the free-swinging Linger had success with his looping punches and dedicated body attack.

New York City welterweight attraction Pablo Valdez (5-0, 4 KOs) scraped past East Los Angeles native Alejandro Martinez (2-2-1, 2 KOs) by six-round majority decision (scores: 59-55 2x and 57-57). There was drama in the fourth round when Martinez was wrestled to the canvas and injured his ankle. Had he elected not to continue, the fight would've been called a no-contest. Martinez kept going, and Valdez summoned a second wind in the sixth round to pull away.

Rising welterweight Jahi Tucker (5-0, 3 KOs) wanted to put on show in front of his home region fans. The Long Island native overwhelmed Jorge Rodrigo Sosa (3-3, 3 KOs) and stopped the Paraguayan veteran with a ferocious combination in the third round. Sosa, who dropped his third fight in a row, had never been knocked out as a pro.

Local favorite Ray "The Scientist" Cuadrado (2-0, 1 KO) did not exactly dissect Michael Land (1-4-1, 1 KO), but the junior lightweight prospect prevailed via four-round unanimous decision. Land had some success in the fourth round, but that was not enough for him to draw even on the cards of the judges, who scored it 40-36 and 39-37 2x.

Junior welterweight prospect Kasir "Mazzi" Goldston (4-0, 1 KO) overcame the rough-and-tumble Marc Misiura (2-2, 1 KO) to win a four-round unanimous decision by identical scores of 40-35. In the fourth round, Misiura had a point deducted for an intentional headbutt.




Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:

  • Two (or Three) Lefts Make a Right: Francisco Guilledo to Luisito Espinosa
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez Advances to 2025 World Boxing Championships Semifinals
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • UNIFIED WORLD CHAMPION OSCAR COLLAZO HOSTS MEDIA WORKOUT
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Jerwin Ancajas Set for IBF Mandatory Eliminator Against Former World Champ Ryosuke Nishida; Winner Fights Naoya Inoue
    By Carlos Costa, , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • “Night of Champions” Returns to Caribe Royale Resort in Orlando on September 19
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Local Favorite Bryce Mills Tops First Boxing Card At del Lago Resort & Casino
    , Thu, 11 Sep 2025
  • Round 12 with Mauricio Sulaiman: It´s Fightweek Fight: Canelo vs. Crawford
    By Mauricio Sulaimán, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Casimero comeback next month in Kyrgyzstan?
    By Nick Giongco, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Team USA Concludes Day Six of 2025 World Boxing Championships
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Andrade, Garras rule Milo marathon in Tagum
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • CROCKER-DONOVAN II: INSIDE LOOK AT FIRST FACE-OFF IN BELFAST
    , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Former Panamanian WBA champ Jorge Lujan hospitalized
    By Gabriel F. Cordero, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Southern Sports Heroes Night on Sept. 28
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • ABAP feels WB’s growing pains
    By Joaquin Henson, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • Laurente is new Philippine super featherweight champ
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Wed, 10 Sep 2025
  • THE PAST WEEK IN ACTION 8 SEPTEMBER 2025: Nunez Outpoints Diaz; Iglesias Stops Shishkin; Valdez, Conlan Register Wins in Return
    By Eric Armit, , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Dante Kirkman Stays Undefeated Triumphing with Dominant Unanimous Decision Win
    , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Dream fight for Steven Sumpter vs. Undefeated Bek Nurmaganbet This Wednesday at Fontainebleau Las Vegas during ‘Canelo vs. Crawford’ Week
    , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Yoseline Perez and Malachi Georges Advance to Quarterfinals with Wins on Day Five of World Boxing Championships
    , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • GM candidate Ronald Dableo's squad rules Mayor Francisco "Isko Moreno" Domagoso Inter-Barangay Chess Team Tournament, pockets P150,000
    By Marlon Bernardino, , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Saggap, Manayon top Heritage Aquathlon
    By Lito delos Reyes, , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Rizal Memorial Coliseum: The Arena That Endured War and Forged Generations of Filipino Greats
    By Emmanuel Rivera, RRT, , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • “The Homecoming” turned into Coronation for Marco Romero
    , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Christopher “Pitufo” Diaz Speaks After Pushing Eduardo Nunez to the Limit in Thrilling War – A Potential Fight of the Year
    , Tue, 09 Sep 2025
  • Santisima Wins But Vicelles Loses; Suarez-Navarrete Rematch Hangs in the Balance?
    By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, , Mon, 08 Sep 2025




  •  



     
    PhilBoxing.com has been created to support every aspiring
    Filipino boxer and the Philippine boxing scene in general.
    Please send comments to feedback@philboxing.com


    PRIVATE POLICY | LEGAL DISCLAIMER
    developed and maintained by dong secuya
    © 2025 philboxing.com.