Former IBF super featherweight champion Joseph ‘JoJo’ Diaz 32-2-1 (15) is expecting a tough fight from undefeated William ‘El Camarón’ Zepeda 26-0 (23) when they clash at the Pechanga Arena in San Diego, California on Saturday night.
The 29-year-old American southpaw believe his experience at the top level will get him over the line against Mexican lefty Zepeda, 26.
“Zepeda is a young, hungry, and tough fighter, but I’m hoping that it will bring the best out of me on Saturday,” Diaz said. “He looks great on paper, but I’ve been there, done that, and my experience speaks for itself.
“I have been working really hard on myself in general. I’m excited to be doing what I love to be doing, which is putting on a great show for the fans.
“There is an A-side and B-side. I’m the A-side.”
“There is no A-side or B-side. This is a fight for the fans,” Zepeda said.
“I’m very grateful for my promoter, Golden Boy and to my team for bringing out that talent and for teaching me new things. These are the types of opponents that bring out the best fights and show that we belong.”
“JoJo Diaz is one of the most exciting fighters we have,” Eric Gomez, president of Golden Boy Promotions said. “He’ll take on any challenge. He’s a great person, great former champion, and works very hard. He is not taking Zepeda lightly. You can give JoJo the edge just because he’s more experienced.
“With Zepeda, you’ve got a hungry and young kid that is trying to make it. He is fighting the guy with the bigger name. It’s going to be fireworks.”
Also on the card welterweight Alexis ‘Lex’ Rocha 20-1 (13) will take on Jesus ‘Ricky’ Perez 24-3 (18).
“I’m here just living out my dream. Who would have thought that the 11-year old chubby kid would be here on the patch to chasing a world title,” Rocha said.
“From this point forward, I’m only going to give more effort to take over my division. My focus right now is Jesus Perez.”
“You are going to see a more complete, more focused fighter when I get in the ring with Rocha,” Perez said. “You will see more defining qualities from me. The winner Saturday night will be the fans.
“God willing, we are going to shock the fans on Saturday.”
Further down the card Arely Mucino 31-3-2 (11) will take on Leonela Yudica 17-0-3 for the IBF flyweight title.
“This fight brings a lot of emotions,” Mucino said. “The meaning behind the fight is much deeper. We have been working for many years to come back on top and to once again become a world champion. This is my father’s dream and my dream. I have been through a lot in my life and look, we are here to fulfill that dream. It’s very special for me to complete this dream for my father.”