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In one of the best fights anyone’s ever going to see, Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk went to war tonight in Las Vegas, ending in the fifth round with Zepeda scoring the final of a total eight knockdowns, this one a knockout blow to secure the victory.
We really can’t stress that this isn’t just hype in the moment, this was a truly unbelievable fight. Zepeda was down twice in the first, the two traded knockdowns in the second, Baranchyk was down again in the third and fourth, Zepeda was down again in the fifth, and then finally Baranchyk was caught with a vicious KO blow to end the fight that same round.
Boxing can be an exceptionally frustrating sport to love and follow as we do. There are robberies, there are terrible and puzzling political decisions from sanctioning bodies, too many dumb belts creating mass confusion, and too often a dearth of top fighters actually fighting other top fighters.
Tonight wasn’t just a reminder of what brings us all back — good fights can do that. This was an elite-tier exceptional fight.
Here’s what some of the pros had to say after it was over:
One of the best fights I’ve seen since Foreman-Lyle. Plain and simple. #ZepedaBaranchyk
— Bob Arum (@BobArum) October 4, 2020
Never seen no shit like it
— Terence Crawford (@terencecrawford) October 4, 2020
Instant reactions after the madness from the men on the call: @osunaespn & @Timbradleyjr #ZepedaBaranchyk pic.twitter.com/l8xyshLMdl
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) October 4, 2020
I’ve never called a fight like that...EVER!!! WHOA #ZepedaBaranchyk
— Crystina Poncher (@CrystinaPoncher) October 4, 2020
BROOOOOOO WHAAAAAT
— Vergil Ortiz Jr. (@VergilOrtiz) October 4, 2020
8 knockdowns in 5 rounds! No sport like boxing!
— Kal Yafai (@iam_yafai) October 4, 2020
It was the only way it could end. One of them getting put away. #zepedabaranchyk
— Mykal(Michael) Fox (@ProfessorMyke) October 4, 2020
WHAT A FIGHT!! #ZepedaBaranchyk
— Andrew Moloney (@AndrewMoloney) October 4, 2020
What a sensational dramatic fight . Congratulations to the new @WBCBoxing silver super light weight champion and to such a warrior challenger #ZepedaBaranchyk @trboxing
— Mauricio Sulaiman (@wbcmoro) October 4, 2020
Dammmm that was a crazy fight. Never saw that coming. Might be the end of Ivan. That’s devastating
— Rougarou (@RPrograis) October 4, 2020
Fight of the decade shit!!!! Both them went down Atleast 4 times a piece and then that KO sheesh https://t.co/uVRp1F33IR
— Richard Brewart Jr (@Brewart61898) October 4, 2020
FOTY & KO OF THE YEAR! DAMNNNNNNNN
— Lamont Roach Jr (@OneOf1x) October 4, 2020
What a K.O by my dude CHON!
— Arnold Barboza jr (@jrBarbozaArnold) October 4, 2020
FOTY #ZepedaBaranchyk
— Luis Angel Feliciano (@Luis_Feliciano) October 4, 2020