William Zepeda, one of the most feared lightweights, claims that he “transforms” when he gets in the ring.
“I've always been a calm person, I think that when I get in the ring I do transform from what I’ve been told, but it's because of the combat itself” Zepeda told BoxingScene. “One seeks to improve oneself, to achieve goals, to achieve objectives, so I think one leaves aside that of being a good person and that doesn't mean that one is going to be bad in the ring, it's simply a sport in which one must be victorious to continue advancing.”
Following his most recent victory against Maxi Hughes back in March, the 27-year-old southpaw reflected on the performance which put him in pole position for a world title shot.
“We knew that Maxi Hughes was coming off a great performance against [George] Kambosos, independently of the experience he already had, but that fight was something important where we wanted to see what level we were at and I think we passed that test with flying colors,” said Zepeda. “We always prepare well for every fight, that was no exception.”
Where desire meets strategy, Zepeda further explained his options after his next clash in California with Giovanni Cabrera on July 6.
“Right now for the WBA [title] it’s Gervonta [Davis], for the WBC there’s Shakur [Stevenson], for the IBF now there’s Lomachenko, well they are already big names that I mean for whichever side you move, you are not going to look for the most difficult or the easiest one because they all have their degree of difficulty, so right now my team and Golden Boy are already planning which piece is going to move, because that is also important.”
Upon analyzing the top of the division, Zepeda expressed admiration with a touch of nostalgia for his potential rival Vasiliy Lomachenko, who recently recaptured the IBF world title in a one-sided bout against George Kambosos earlier this month.
“I've always said that Lomachenko is one of the boxers that is a pleasure to watch, for those of us who like boxing, what boxing is, it's a delight to watch his fights - because of the things he does, the movements, how he moves in the ring,” Zepeda said. “I really consider that since I started boxing, when I was a kid, I saw boxers of his caliber, who had stood out in amateur boxing and now at this level it would be an honor, a pride to share the ring with him. With a fighter like him, that's what we have always worked for, to be fighting with the best, but Lomachenko is undoubtedly respectable.”
A fight with Stevenson was once rumored and he remains a viable target for Zepeda down the line.
“Shakur is a young fighter, a fighter that we are going to follow, if he also goes up in weight at some point, we are similar in age, our bodies are going to change and maybe it won't be at 135 [lbs], maybe it will be 140, but I'm sure that in the future that fight will happen.”
Connecting the past to the future, the Mexican made it clear that he plans on adding his name to the long list of great fighters from his country.
“The truth is that everyone has an inspiration, I consider myself to come from a country where boxing is a power, so I would like my name to be remembered as a Juan Manuel Marquez, [Ricardo] ’Finito’ Lopez, [Julio Cesar] Chavez, So you have the motivation of those great legends that are not only in Mexican boxing, but also in boxing worldwide.
“Every morning I wake up with the motivation that someday my name will remain in world boxing with a great taste in my mouth, with a good memory and also to show the youth that everything is possible to achieve the goals that each one of us sets out for ourselves and to leave that well marked in the youth.”
“More than anything else I am a person, a boxer, a sportsman who is interested in the youth and to pass them the message, that they should fight for their dreams and show that yes, it is possible.”
