Jose Pedraza vs Jose Zepeda Odds & Betting Preview
- Pedraza vs Zepeda goes Saturday, September 14th at 10 PM ET
- Can Pedraza make a successful transition to a new weight class?
- Can Zepeda utilize his exemplary KO power to shoot up the rankings?
Pedraza vs Zepeda isn’t the main event but based on the fanfare surrounding the bout, it may as well be a T-Mobile Arena on Saturday night.
The ten-round super lightweight contest is a co-promotion between Top Rank and Queensberry Promotions who’ve put together a stacked card with hardcore boxing fans most excited for this tilt on ESPN+.
Check out the fight odds and bout breakdown below.
Jose Pedraza vs Jose Zepeda Odds
| Fighter | Odds |
|---|---|
| Jose Pedraza | -125 |
| Jose Zepeda | -105 |
*Odds taken 09/11/19.
Zepeda has gone without a win so far in his 2019 campaign. This doesn’t fully paint the picture though as he took on the highly regarded Jose Ramirez, giving Ramirez his toughest career fight albeit in a super close majority decision loss.
This is Zepeda’s first fight in Vegas in nearly six years. Pedraza has gone 1-0 this year, capturing the WBO Latino lightweight title in the process. This fight looks quite competitive, as evidenced by the oddsmaker numbers, but I see Pedraza winning this battle of the Jose’s.
Pedraza Puts on a Clinic
Pedraza has only lost to the very best with his two defeats coming to Vasyl Lomachenko and Gervonta Davis. He has collected IBO and IBF titles as a super featherweight but also has captured some WBO hardware since moving divisions.
The KO rates between the two men are noticeably different and it’s an interesting metric. Pedraza sits at a 50 percent knockout rate while Zepeda’s is at 83 percent. Although Pedraza’s last fight saw him score his first stoppage in half a decade by getting a TKO win over Ines Antonio Lozada Torres, he also has shown power underpinning his high volume striking approach.
Absolutely brutal finish to the 12th round by Jose Pedraza against Ray Beltran. I think he’s done enough to win the WBO lightweight title! pic.twitter.com/GqYrJjkWoV
— Ryan Songalia (@ryansongalia) August 26, 2018
Other metrics between the two look freakishly similar. The two men are the same height, age and posess the same reach. Zepeda should have the size advantage as he contended for a welterweight world title in his second-last fight. Although this means Pedraza could have a decided speed advantage.
Pedraza vs Zepeda Tale of the Tape
| 26-2 | Record | 30-2 |
| 13 | Knockouts | 25 |
| 5’8 | Height | 5’8 |
| 70.5″ | Reach | 70.5″ |
| Raymundo Beltrán, Stephen Smith, Antonio Lozada Jr. | Significant Wins | Pedro Navarrete, Armando Robles, Victor Cayo |
| orthodox | Stance | southpaw |
One of the big disparities between the two is their respective amateur records. Zepeda has a modest yet respectable record of 15-1, while Pedraza’s amateur accolades include a bronze medal at the 2007 Pan American Games, silver at the 2009 World Amateur Boxing Championships, as well as gold at the 2010 Central American and Caribbean Games.
Oh, and did I mention he participated in the 2008 Summer Olympics? A lot of amateur experience lends itself to a refined ring craft and unassailably solid technical skills.
Pedraza vs Zepeda looks like a curious clashing of styles, on paper. It’s Zepeda’s finishing ability and killer instinct versus the speed intensive high volume approach of the technically savvy Pedraza. I think Pedraza can work at range, stay mobile, and make calculated decisions to time his own entries. I see Pedraza getting it done by unanimous decision.
Pick: Pedraza (-125)
A part-time writer and full-time broadcaster, Dylan has hosted MMA talk shows Lights Out and Pure Fight Radio with featured guests like Jens Pulver, Roy Nelson, Miesha Tate, and covered some of the biggest MMA promotions like Rumble in the Cage, Unified MMA, and King of the Cage.
