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Steve KimESPN
October’s boxing action kicks off Saturday with a key bout between junior welterweight contenders Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk, which headlines the latest card from Top Rank Boxing’s bubble at the MGM Grand Convention Center in Las Vegas.
Baranchyk (20-1, 13 KOs), a former IBF junior welterweight world titlist, suffered the only loss of his career at the hands of Josh Taylor in the World Boxing Super Series semifinals in May 2019. Baranchyk suffered a rib injury that postponed the fight against Zepeda (32-2, 25 KOs) from its initial June date.
Zepeda, who has won two fights in a row including a July outing in the Top Rank bubble, is likewise looking to elevate his status in a competitive division. His two career losses have come in world title fights, including a razor-thin majority-decision defeat at the hands of Jose Ramirez in February 2019.
The winner of Baranchyk-Zepeda will be keeping a close eye on the potential title unification bout between Taylor and Ramirez that could come late this year or in early 2021.
In the co-main event, undefeated 20-year-old lightweight prospect Gabriel Flores Jr. (18-0, 6 KOs) returns for his second fight inside the bubble. The Stockton-born standout will take on Ryan Kielczweski (30-4, 11 KOs), as Flores fights for the second time inside the Top Rank bubble, after a June victory over Josec Ruiz.
There’s also a heavyweight clash between highly touted prospect Guido Vianello (7-0, 7 KOs) and Kingsley Ibeh (5-1, 4 KOs). Both are returning to action inside the Top Rank bubble — Vianello for the second time and Ibeh for the third. This fight was initially set to take place in July but was postponed when Ibeh returned a positive test for COVID-19.
Follow along live throughout the night as Steve Kim breaks down all of the action.
Junior lightweights: Frevian Gonzalez vs. Carlos Marrero III
Fight in progress…
Heavyweight Sipe needs less than a minute to TKO Barnes in pro debut
It was a short bout between heavyweights Mitchell Sipe and Jimmy Barnes, who wasted no time in throwing the hardest punches they could muster at one another. It was quickly clear that Sipe’s were landing harder, and it didn’t take long for Sipe to earn a result — a first-round TKO in just 43 seconds.
Sipe (1-0, 1 KOs), was making his pro debut, and at 248.9 pounds he was significantly outweighed by Barnes (1-1, 1 KO), who came in at 290.6. But as they exchanged punches early on, Sipe’s salvos hurt Barnes and sent him down in the early seconds of this contest.
After getting up, the two men continued to trade haymakers, and just like their earlier exchange, Barnes was buzzed again. Referee Robert Hoyle stepped in and quickly made the decision to stop the fight in its earliest stages.
Brady surges late, wins pro debut with late TKO of Karyah
Featherweight Haven Brady Jr. made a successful pro debut, as he scored a fourth-round TKO of Gorwar Karyah. It was an awkward and ugly affair at times, with Brady penalized a point for low blows in the second round after multiple warnings and Karyah docked one himself for excessive holding two rounds later.
But eventually the overall skills of Brady took over, and he began to break through the clutching and holding of Karyah (2-2, 2 KOs). In the fourth round, Brady began to land more hard right hands that hurt Karyah, who early on had proved to be an elusive target
As Brady settled in during the fourth round, he began striking Karyah repeatedly while Karyah’s back was on the ropes. Eventually, it was too much in the eyes of referee Russell Mora, who called a halt to the action at 2:27 of Round 4.
Mariano scores quick TKO of Reed
In the opening bout of the night at the MGM Grand Conference Center, welterweight JJ Mariano made quick work of Matthew Reed, stopping him in under 90 seconds in Round 1.
Reed (1-1, 1 KOs), who came in a couple of pounds over the weight limit on Friday afternoon, was struck by a left hook as he stepped inside. Reed hit the canvas, and as he rose, he was on shaky legs. Mariano (3-0, 2 KOs) peppered Mariano with quick punches that further dazed Reed.
At that point, referee Robert Hoyle waved off the fight at 1:27.
Still to come:
Junior welterweights: Jose Zepeda vs. Ivan Baranchyk (10 rounds)
Lightweights: Gabriel Flores Jr. vs. Ryan Kielczweski (10 rounds)
Heavyweights: Guido Vianello vs. Kingsley Ibeh (6 rounds)
Featherweights: Duke Ragan vs. John Moraga (4 rounds)