Top Rank is Pulling Rank
By Eddie Sanchez
Following months of bad press and underwhelming draws, Top Rank is feeling their groove and is absolutely killing it right now.
This past weekend fight fans were delivered a treat of a bout between Jose Zepeda (33-2 (2)) and Ivan Baranchyk (20-2). The two Super Lightweight contenders put on a show and gave us an old-school, throwback backyard brawl filled with eight total knockdowns!
The number three and four fighters within the division worked to position themselves for a second title opportunity, and Zepeda came through by delivering the final deadly blow. Ivan was down for an extended period and gave us a scare, but looks to be feeling better now.
If you missed the bout, check out these highlights!
Zepeda showed us fight fans that he is the real deal and is looking forward for a second crack at, what should be, the Undisputed Super Lightweight Championship, assuming Bob Arum is able to confirm Josh Taylor (WBA, IBF, The Ring) versus Jose Ramirez (WBC, WBO).
Top Rank essentially owns the Super Lightweight division and this past Saturday, we got a look into what we have left to ponder.
As if that isn’t enough, we are less than two weeks away from arguably the most anticipated fight of the year, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez.
If you weren’t pumped for this already, the new promo will surely get you there.
The winner of this bout will be head-and-shoulders above the rest of the stacked Lightweight division as the holders of WBA, WBO, IBF & The Ring belts.
For context, the rest of the division has no slouches, there is the WBC champ Devin Haney, WBA regular holder Gervonta Davis, as well as the people’s champ, Ryan Garcia.
Haney and Davis have business to take care of with Gamboa and Santa Cruz respectively, but it’s clear the talk of the division is largely between Lomachenko and Lopez. After all, this fight will be on standard ESPN and should draw massive numbers.
Lomachenko is the favorite at -350, while Lopez sits at +265.
It’s clear Vegas is showing faith in Lomachenko’s experience, but there is a lot of noise in the industry that Lopez might find success with his come-forward aggressive nature.
Regardless of who you believe will win, both men are in fantastic shape. The hype is real right now and fans are sure to be treated to a massive showing.
It must feel good to be Bob Arum at the moment. He is owning all the talk between the 135 and 140 pound divisions and is making fans and his stakeholders within ESPN very happy.
Do you think Josh Taylor versus Jose Ramirez will get confirmed soon?
Will Jose Ramirez get the next crack at the championships, or will sanctioning body politics get in the way?
Finally, who is winning, Lomachenko or Lopez? Let us know your thoughts!
