Jose Zepeda murks Ivan Baranchyk in wild 8 knockdown, 5 round bout (Video)

Junior welterweights Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk produced eight knockdowns in five rounds, but Zepeda finished the fight on his feet.

Junior welterweights Ivan Baranchyk and Jose Zepeda met in a WBC title eliminator on Saturday, Oct. 3. Both men have competed for championships in the past and were hungry to take another step closer towards a potential shot at a belt. Everybody anticipated a competitive matchup, but no one could have predicted the knockdown fest that ensued.

Baranchyk won the IBF title in 2018 after stopping Anthony Yigit in the World Boxing Super Series, but he lost it in the next round of the tournament via unanimous decision to unified champion Joshy Taylor.

Zepeda has never won a title, but he gave Jose Ramirez a tough battle in 2019 but lost by majority decision. Ramirez’s WBC belt was on the line.

Before their contest, Baranchyk outlined his ideal vision of the future to FanSided.

“Yes, of course I want a rematch [with Josh Taylor],” Baranchyk told FanSided. “But first, I want to get two belts from Ramirez, and then I want a unified fight with Josh Taylor.”

Zepeda torpedoed all of Baranchyk’s plans.

In the first round, Zepeda was in serious trouble. Baranchyk put him down twice with two right-hand, left-hook combinations, but the momentum shifted in round 2.

Zepeda caught Baranchyk in round 2 and put him down, but the referee didn’t rule it a knockdown. It didn’t matter because he caught Baranchyk with another left hook that sent Baranchyk down. The second knockdown counted.

Jose Zepeda and Ivan Baranchyk traded a staggering amount of knockdowns, but Zepeda proved to have more firepower

Zepeda tried to end Baranchyk’s night but got caught with a Baranchyk right hand for a knockdown. He got up, and the round came to a close. The knockdowns didn’t end there.

In round 3, Baranchyk’s legs were still weak, and Zepeda knocked him down again. Starting round 4, Baranchyk staged a comeback but ate another Zepeda left and went down. He got to his feet and finished the round.

In round 5, Baranchyk stunned Zepeda with a right uppercut that sent Zepeda flying into the ropes. It was ruled a knockdown because the ropes saved Zepeda from going down. Baranchyk thought he had Zepeda where he wanted him, but he was wrong.

Baranchyk charged Zepeda and ran right into a Zepeda left hook that knocked him out cold. It was a frightening scene. Baranchyk’s right leg got caught underneath his body and bent back. He spent several minutes on the ground, but came to and made it his stool. Zepeda pulled out the fifth round knockout after a night of action rarely seen.

Baranchyk made it out of the ring under his own power but was taken to the hospital for further evaluation. FanSided wishes him a quick recovery.

There were a total of eight knockdowns in five rounds, but Zepeda’s left hand proved to be the most dangerous weapon earning him the win in a likely Fight of the Year winner. It was an incredible display of power punching, but Zepeda earned the WBC mandatory shot. He’s a threat to anyone he meets in the ring.