Exciting Jose Zepeda back in the ring May 22 against Hank Lundy

Junior welterweight contender Jose Zepeda (32-2, 26 KO’s, 2 NC) will step into the ring for the first time this year, on May 22, when he faces off against Philadelphia’s Hammerin’ Hank Lundy (31-8-1, 14 KO’s).

This will be the first time that Zepeda has fought following his classic give and take war with Ivan Baranchyk in October of last year in The Bubble at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Zepeda and Lundy will square off in a scheduled 10-round bout at Virgin Hotels, Las Vegas.

The fight will serve as the chief support to one of the most anticipated fights in boxing in a long time with the undisputed junior welterweight world championship in the spotlight. The main event will see Scotland’s unbeaten champion Josh Taylor tangling with California’s massively popular, and also undefeated champion, Jose Ramirez.

Zepeda comes into the fight after a well-deserved, 7-month break. In his last fight, which earned The Ring magazine’s 2020, “Fight of the Year” honors, he got up off the deck 4 times before stopping Baranchyk in the 5th round of an outstanding, back and forth war.

Zepeda comes into the fight as the favored fighter, hot off the heels of his classic KO in his last bout. However, in Lundy he is looking at a vastly experienced fighter who has faced outstanding opposition in his 15 years in the ring. Lundy’s resume sees him having faced world champions Richard Abril, John Molina Jr., David Diaz, Ray Beltran, Viktor Postol, DeMarcus Corley and P4P star Terence Crawford. 

In Zepeda, we have a fighter who certainly revived his career with the Baranchyk KO after 2 failed title attempts. Zepeda was stopped by champion Terry Flanigan in 2015 in England and lost a close, MD to the night’s main event headliner, Jose Ramirez, in 2019, in Fresno. Since the Ramirez loss in 2019, Zepeda has put together 3 straight wins, including the Baranchyk KO and a decision win over former world champion Jose Pedraza.

So, with a victory over the highly respected Lundy, Zepeda knows he is knocking on the door of his 3rd world title shot.  

In a recent interview, Zepeda made it clear he would like another shot with Jose Ramirez, a fight that was close; some thought Zepeda won.

“Our first fight was a very good fight, a close fight. A lot of people thought I won that fight and a lot of people thought he won the fight. That (Ramirez rematch) is a fight I’d like, and I think people would like to see it”, said Zepeda.

On May 22, if Zepeda and Ramirez can both emerge with victories, look for an all-Mexican showdown for Ramirez’s undisputed world titles - something Zepeda, and fight fans, would welcome.