By
Golden Boy Boxing returned to DAZN Saturday night as the streaming service aired a live card from Dallas, Texas featuring a light fight between William Zepeda and Jaime Arboleda. First, though, was a scheduled eight-round super middleweight pitch between 12-0 David Stevens and 26-6-1 veteran Marco Antonio Periban.
Stevens was ahead after two rounds and even appeared to hurt his man in the third, but Periban surprised his man with a lightning knockdown in the third. However, Stevens got to his feet quickly and was able to land the harder punches throughout the fight. Unsurprisingly, the man remained undefeated after the final bell rang, courtesy of a unanimous decision by the judges.
Up next was a super welterweight ten rounder scheduled between 16-1-1 Esteban Villalobos and 29-3 Fredrick Lawson. Villalobos got off to an aggressive start, keeping Lawson on the sidelines. Indeed, the fight had flashes of excitement throughout the first half, flashes which saw both men land well.
And indeed, the fight remained intriguing to the very end. Villalobos chased down and Lawson fired hard punches from a defensive position. Indeed, the final round was a slugfest, with each man firing hard at the other. Sure enough, Lawson was clearly hurt in the last minute of the fight. Also, Villalobos nearly finished it before the final bell. It was a terrific fight, frankly, that the judges awarded Lawson.
24-1 Diego De La Hoya was next, facing 17-0-1 Victor Morales in a scheduled featherweight throw for ten. The first round wasn’t boring, but it wasn’t particularly eventful either. Things were different in the second, when Morales lunged forward like a pit bull and knocked De La Hoya down with a fantastic left foot. His face covered in blood, De La Hoya somehow managed to beat the count. He immediately started fighting bravely, but he fell again and this time he couldn’t get to his feet in time. It was a big win for Morales, to say the least.
It was time for the main event. 19-2 Jaime Arboleda was facing 27-0 favorite William Zepeda in a scheduled twelve-round lightweight affair. The first round was exciting, fast and tight, although perhaps Zepeda got over it. Impressive combos and body work put Arboleda down in the second. Arboleda stood up but was clearly in trouble. In fact, he was knocked out for the second time moments later. Again, Arboleda was able to get to his feet, but Zepeda’s corps attack put him down and out for the night after a few more seconds.