Ring City's inaugural show is set for November 19th at Freddie Roach’s Wild Card Boxing Club in Los Angeles. The show will be headlined by super featherweight O’Shaquie Foster (17-2, 10 KOs) vs. Mexican warrior Miguel Roman (62-13, 47 KOs) in a ten-round showdown. In the All-Mexican co-feature, hard-punching William Zepeda (21-2 including the World Series of Boxing) challenges Roberto Ramirez (23-2-1, 16 KOs) in a lightweight ten rounder. The 24 year-old Zepeda last fought in March, stopping 13-3 Brayam Rico in the sixth round.
"What does it mean to be Mexican?” Zepeda asked himself growing up in San Mateo Atenco. His dad told him that being Mexican is in his blood and is something to be proud of. As a boy, Zepeda excelled as an athlete, but had a hard time finding meaning in the sports he tried. At the age of 13, he found boxing. From the moment he put on his first pair of gloves, everything started to make sense. When he and his father watched the first Juan Manuel Marquez vs. Manny Pacquiao fight, the relentless back and forth, the composure of Marquez while being smothered with immense pressure, all led him to a realization: being Mexican is a way of life. A life of perserverance through mental and physical strength. Zepeda brings both to the ring, and sees himself as a next generation Mexican Warrior, proud to represent his people through boxing. He has become San Mateo Atenco’s hometown hero. He was part of the Mexico Junior Olympics team and the Wolrd Series of Boxing Mexican Guerreros team.
Ramirez will end a 362-day period of inactivity when he gets in the ring on Thursday. Fighting at junior welterweight, Ramirez won an eight-round decision over 12-2-1 Francisco Javier Hernandez. For Zepeda, Ramirez will be back at lightweight.
Ramirez fully embraces the underdog role. In 2018 Ramirez, made his US debut in Queens, NY. Facing the former WBC lightweight champ Dejan Zlaticanin, the unknown Ramirez shocked the crowd with a flurry of punches in the second round that broke Zlaticanin’s nose and jaw. With that victory came new-found confidence, a stronger commitment to training and diet, and a realization that boxing can open doors in many different facets of his life. As a university graduate with a Criminal Justice degree, Ramirez uses boxing to inspire kids and keep them out of trouble. Since defeating Zlaticanin, Ramirez has won five more bouts. Entering the fight with William Zepeda on November 19th, Ramirez knows he’s once again underdog.
