It was a lively evening at the Poliforum Benito Juárez in Cancún, Mexico, as the night promised drama and it certainly delivered, with Zepeda putting his WBC interim title on the line in front of a supportive home crowd. While Farmer came prepared to rewrite their rivalry, it became clear from the early rounds that Zepeda’s power could determine how things would unfold.
Zepeda opened the contest in explosive form, nearly stopping Farmer in both the second and fourth rounds with barrages of punches. Farmer did his best to neutralize the onslaught by resorting to frequent clinching, which many observers felt went largely unchecked by the referee. Still, the American contender worked his way back into the fight in the later rounds, earning credit for his craft and ring savvy. By the final bell, the scorecards read 114-114, 116-112, and 115-113, handing Zepeda the majority decision. Despite Farmer’s late rally, it was not enough to swing the verdict, leaving him frustrated by what he viewed as a lack of officiating balance.
Earlier in the night, WBO World Minimumweight champion Oscar Collazo put on a masterclass against challenger Edwin Cano Hernandez. Collazo dominated from the opening bell, overwhelming his opponent with a blend of accuracy and sheer volume. A pinpoint body shot in the fifth round dropped Hernandez for good, giving Collazo another successful title defense.
In a flyweight showdown, former IBF light flyweight champion Yokasta Valle squared off against Marlen Esparza. The two engaged in a tightly contested ten-rounder, with each fighter having stretches of success. Ultimately, Valle’s cleaner work and consistent aggression edged her to a split decision victory (97-93 twice, 94-96).
Image Credit: Golden Boy Promotions