Diaz, a former IBF super featherweight champion, relied on his chin and timing, even briefly wobbling Zepeda in the later rounds. However, Zepeda's stamina never faltered, even in his first career 12-round fight. Impact on Careers
In their 12-round main event at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, William Zepeda secured a lopsided victory with scores of 119-109, 119-109, and 118-110. Key Performance Analysis Boks: Diaz vs Zepeda
Zepeda set a new CompuBox record for the lightweight division by throwing 1,536 punches over 12 rounds, averaging 128 per round. He also broke records for total jabs attempted (787) and jabs in a single round (89). Diaz, a former IBF super featherweight champion, relied
Watch the highlights and analysis of Zepeda's record-breaking performance: Key Performance Analysis Zepeda set a new CompuBox
The loss was seen as a significant setback for the veteran, making a return to world title contention look difficult in a crowded 135-pound division.
Zepeda utilized his significant height (5'9") and reach (69.5") advantages to suffocate Diaz with non-stop pressure. While Diaz had moments where he landed crisp counter-hooks and uppercuts, he was unable to maintain the pace required to keep Zepeda at bay.
This "statement victory" confirmed his status as an elite lightweight contender and moved him into position for a world title shot.