Zepeda: “Distance or ko, I’m ready to win”

American KO sensation Jose Zepeda says he’s ready to rumble when he comes to England and face Terry Flanagan for the Vacant WBO World Lightweight title on Saturday 11th July at the Manchester Velodrome, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

With under two weeks to go until the big showdown between the undefeated fighters, Zepeda is adding the finishing touches to his training as he faces the biggest fight of his career against the Manchester ace in his first fight outside of the US and Mexico.

The 26-year-old from California is being groomed as the next big star of American boxing with his model looks and knockout punch that has seen him blast out 20 of 23 opponents and a blistering 16 KO’s coming inside three rounds.

With Oscar De La Hoya’s renown former trainer Robert Alcazar in his corner, Zepeda says he’s ready to win either by KO or the distance.

“This is my first title shot, I’m very happy and I’ll be ready. Flanagan’s a great fighter with a good record and he’s doing something right, I believe that I’m a great fighter also and my record says it. I think that this will be a fantastic fight and we’re ready to go the distance or if it ends fast,” Said Zepeda.

“When I go into a fight I never think about a knockout, the knockout comes by itself, and we will see on July 11th what happens. Since starting together in four rounds fights, Robert really knows his game, he’s been in the big league and we’re always ready for twelve rounds. Knockout or distance we’re prepared to win the fight.”

“Robert and I have been together for five years and we’ve got a good relationship. He’s showing me a lot and he’s been in with the big league, not just with Oscar, but with Edwin Valero and many more. We started together and now five years on we’re unbeaten. He made me the fighter I am now,”

“We’ve been sparring thirteen and fourteen rounds, really hard sparring that makes the fighting easy, we train hard and we spar hard. When we go more than twelve rounds in sparring we know we’re ready, most of my fights haven’t gone the distance because I’m prepared. So I’m ready for Flanagan and as many rounds as we have to go,”

“I haven’t really seen much of Flanagan, I leave that to Robert and he’s seen more of him, he’s got a great record seeing as he’s 27-0,”

“I’ve only fought in Mexico and the US so it is definitely something new for me to fight abroad. I don’t mind coming to England, my promoter told me there was a chance of going to England for the fight and I was okay with that. I’m strong and I’m prepared for it, it’s a new experience for me, I’m just going to go and do my job.”

Flanagan v Zepeda headlines an action-packed show that also features Liam Walsh’s British and Commonwealth Super-Featherweight title defence against Troy James; the return of former IBF World Bantamweight Champion Paul Butler, and Jack Catterall’s WBO Intercontinental Light-Welterweight title defence against Gabriel Calfin, live and exclusive on BoxNation.

A sensational line-up on the show will feature top British talents Tom Stalker, Adrian Gonzalez, Steven Lewis, John Kays, Joe Costello, McCaulay McGowan, and Kallum De’Ath plus top Belarussian heavyweight Alexander Ustinov.

Tickets for ‘Turbo’ priced at £40, £50, £75, £100 and £150 will be available from Eventim on 0844 249 1000 and online at www.eventim.co.uk

The Channel Of Champions, BoxNation, will televise the show live and exclusive on Sky 437/HD 490, Virgin 546 and Talk Talk 415.  Subscribe at www.boxnation.com  or watch online at Livesport.tv and via iPhone, iPad or Android.