Fired up and ready, Jose Zepeda knocks out Josue Vargas

Note to Josue Vargas. Be careful what you wish for.

Jose Zepeda, who Vargas implied had lost a step a few days ago, knocked out Vargas in less than two minutes at Hulu Theater at Madison Square Garden Saturday night.

“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," Zepeda said. “I told him, and he probably knew I hit hard. I don’t think he recovered after that shot.”

Zepeda, a southpaw like Vargas, applied pressure and fired hard jabs. Vargas used lateral movement and little else. It was a feeling out round until it wasn’t.

Near the 1:35 mark, Zepeda (35-2, 27 KOs) shot a jab and let fly with a straight left hand. The blow landed flush on the chin of Vargas, folding up the young prospect who went down on his face.

“He caught me with a good left hand, and I tried to recover, but I think I got up too fast, said Vargas. “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.”

Vargas (19-2, 9 KOs) beat the count but his legs weren’t ready. He fell along the ropes but was up at seven. Zepeda went for the kill, tattooing Vargas with shots until the referee waved the fight off.

Zepeda wants a title shot.

“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.”