TIJUANA, Mexico – Two of Zanfer best will go to battle this Saturday in foreign soil in quest for a world championship, Jose “Chon” Zepeda will take on Terry Flanagan in England and Francisco “Chihuas” Rodriguez will take on Filipino Icon, Donnie Nietes in Cebu City.
Both Mexican fighters know this fights will not be easy, but are confident they will bring back the belts to Mexico.
Zepeda (23-0, 20 KOs) and Flanangan (27-0, 10 KOs) will fight for the vacant lightweight World Boxing Organization (WBO) championship in Manchester, England, home of the man they call “Turbo” Zepeda, who arrived in Manchester this past Saturday, is looking forward to his first world title fight and very much aware that he will be fighting in hostile territory this Saturday night.
“I am very excited to come to England to fight, I feel fine in any ring when I fight. I would have liked to have this fight at home, but I am ready to take full advantage of this great opportunity this Saturday night”, said Zepeda.
“Flanagan is a great fighter. Both of us are undefeated and I am ready to give the fans a tremendous fight. I not intimidated at all, my great preparation will be the key to getting this victory”, added Zepeda.
There is a lot of expectation in Manchester for this fight. It’s the classic boxer puncher showdown. Zepeda is a knockout machine, having won 87% of his fights before the final bell and Flanagan is a boxer who moves well in the ring.
Zanfer Promotions president Fernando Beltran is expected to be at ringside this Saturday in Manchester to give support to his fighter.
“Jose is one of the top talents in Zanfer and has great possibility of winning this fight and taking the WBO Lightweight title back home”, said Beltran.
Beltran will also keep an eye in the Philippines where another one of his fighters Francisco “Chihuas” Rodríguez, will challenge local hero Donnie Nietes for the WBO Light Flyweight championship.
“I am very confident the next Saturday, Zanfer and Mexico will have two more world champions, both are real warriors and they will show it in the ring this Saturday night”, said Beltran.
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RODRIGUEZ READY FOR BATTLE
Francisco “Chihuas” Rodríguez has been the Philippines for over week putting the final touches in his preparation for the fight where he will be seeking his third world title and second in different divisions.
Rodríguez set up his camp in Ermita, one of the districts in Manila, and will travel to Cebu City later this week for the fight that will take place in the Waterfront Hotel and Casino in Cebu City.
Rodriguez (17-2-1, 11 KO’s) won the WBO Minimum weight championship last march and later added the International Boxing Federation (FIB) minimum title will challenge one of the all-time great Nietes (35-1-4, 21 KO’s) in what figures to be one the best fights the lower weight classes.
When Rodriguez beat Katsunari Takayama to win the IBF title, that fight was considered by many the best fight of 2014. But unable to make the lower weight he vacated both titles to take on the best fighter in the 108 pound division.
“Francisco is very hungry and is one of the best all-round fighters in the world”, said Charlie Martínezm, the trainer of Rodriguez.
Rodríguez who has had much success against Filipinos boxers, respects Nietes and what he has done in ring, Nietes has reign as a world champion for eight years.
ZANFER ROAD WARRIORS
Going on the road and having success is nothing new for Zanfer fighters who have had some great victories along the way, here are some of their most notable wins in foreign soil, not counting the fights in the United States, where many times they have the full support of the fans.
It all started back in 1988 when five-time world champion Jorge “Travieso” Arce travel to Korea and stopped Yo Sam Choi in the sixth round to captured the WBC Mini Flyweight Championship.
There is more recent success for Zanfer on the road:
In April of 2010 in Tokyo, Japan, Fernando Montiel destroyed Hozumi Hasegawa in four rounds to capture the WBC Featherweight Championship.
In August of 2010 in Puerto Rico Giovani Segura stopped local icon Ivan Calderon to win the WBO Light flyweight crown.
In April 2 of 2011 in Panama, Hernan “Tyson” Marquez stopped Luis “Nica” Conception in an 11 round war to capture the WBA Flyweight Championship, that fight was considered by many to be the best fights of year.
In April 16 of 2011, in Puerto Rico, Orlando “Siri” Salido stopped Juan Manuel “Juanma” Lopez in eight round war to win the WBO Featherweight title. He would go back to Puert Rico and knockout Lopez again in 2012, both fights garner votes for fight of the year.
In April of 2013 in Macau, China, Juan Francisco “Gallo” Estrada beat Brian Viloria to take away his WBO and WBO Flyweight titles.