Jose Zepeda lands a punch in opposition to Ivan Baranchyk on Saturday on the MGM Grand Convention Heart in Las Vegas. (Mikey Williams/Prime Rank)

Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk recreated on Saturday a boxing traditional that occurred practically 45 years in the past that includes one of many best fighters in historical past.

Zepeda received an unbelievable warfare of attrition on Saturday on the MGM Grand Convention Heart, surviving 4 knockdowns by knocking Baranchyk down 4 occasions himself and knocking him out within the fifth in an excellent light-weight title eliminator.

The bout was harking back to the wild heavyweight combat between former champion “Large” George Foreman and Ron Lyle that occurred at Caesars Palace on Jan. 24, 1976.

Zepeda went down twice within the first in a combat by which the 2 by no means stopped throwing haymakers.

“I really feel nice as a result of I received the combat,” Zepeda mentioned after the combat. “It was a tough combat, and I’m pondering, ‘Man, boxing is difficult. It’s no straightforward sport.’ Boxing, it’s robust, and it’s important to give it 100 p.c as a result of it’s a tough sport.

“Each of us are climbing up, and any individual needed to keep. I used to be in a position to win the combat, and I informed him, ‘Thanks for the combat. It was an awesome combat.’”

They fought their means into and out of bother quite a few occasions within the bout. Baranchyk appeared in massive bother after being dropped late within the fourth, however he dropped Zepeda with a proper with 30 seconds left.

He was set for the kill, however nothing went in keeping with type on this wild battle. After the combat resumed, Baranchyk got here in and was clipped on the chin with a crushing left hook. He went down and the combat was over instantly.

He didn’t transfer for a number of minutes as docs attended to him, however left the ring underneath his personal energy and was then transported to the hospital

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It was a battle of wills that Zepeda, who is often a extra technical boxer, received out.

“I do know I’m robust,” Zepeda mentioned. “I didn’t know the way robust I used to be. Tonight, I confirmed myself, too. I’ve by no means been in a combat like this. It was an awesome studying expertise.

“I’m going for the titles. That’s why we’re right here in boxing.”

It must be thought of a frontrunner for Battle of the 12 months. The motion was nonstop and the momentum shifted repeatedly. Every man was cracked with thudding photographs, and it regarded like one thing out of Sylvester Stallone’s creativeness somewhat than an precise combat at occasions.

Whereas it had excessive expectations, it exceeded each considered one of them. Baranchyk received the primary spherical 10-7 on all three playing cards, however trailed 37-35 on the time of the stoppage.

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