Jose Zepeda hopes a big win over WBC super lightweight No. 13 Dalton Smith will be the springboard for his fourth shot at world honors. The three-time world title challenger will be looking to suffer his first professional loss to Sheffield's Smith in an intriguing main event this Saturday at Utilita Arena on DAZN.
“This is going to be a hell of a fight,” Zepeda said. “There's one thing we know: We have to win big. We have to win this battle. The reason I'm still here is because I want a new chance. I want a fourth chance (at the world title). I'm already 34 years old. That's why I'm taking the tough fights. I want a hard fight, and I plan on coming back from this fight. is being established.
“I looked at his record. I know he's 15-0. I know he's a big star in England. I think it's a good chance to get back to the top. I know he's there and he's like a star in England. He's very active in the ring. He likes to move, he's a little fast. He likes to come forward. I know, but it's going to be a great fight. I believe it's going to be a great fight.
“We're going to like that style. The winner of this fight is going to be a fan. He's going to have a tough fight in front of him. This is the first time he's leveled up. So he… You'll notice that it's not easy. It's not easy to get into it.
“Dear British fans, they love boxing – and I know they love the fight. I know Dalton is going to start a war, so it's going to be a war over there. I'm happy to go and I'm going to gain new fans. After all, they better cheer up the opponent afterwards, because he's going to need it.”
In his last bout in September, Zepeda was on the wrong side of a boxing masterclass by Richardson Hitchens, one of America's brightest emerging stars. Undaunted by the shutout point loss, the southpaw jumped at the chance to step into the ring with another of the world's fastest rising super lightweight talents.
“It was a tough loss against Hitchens because I wanted to get back into the top 10,” Zepeda said. “He's a talented fighter. I believe he's going to be a champion. He might have an easy fight, but that's not going to get me anywhere. I want to give him a hard fight so he can quickly get back to being a top-10 contender in the 140-pound weight class.
“Richardson Hitchens was more of a guy who moves around a lot. He doesn't like to get hit. I know Dalton likes to come forward, so I think it's going to be a great fight.” If I win, it will give me a better chance at Matchroom and that's what I want. I want a big chance. It's the experience that has got me here at the moment. I'm aiming for a world title. I fought three times. I want a fourth chance.
“If I don't win this match, I'll probably retire. So I'm training hard so I don't retire. If I don't win this match, there won't be any big fights after that. I don't want big fights. So I have to win this fight.”
