Top Rank Boxing – Bob Arum continued their ESPN promotions Tuesday featuring Jose Zepeda and Luis Lopez winning at The Bubble in the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, Nevada.

In the Main Event Welterweight southpaw ranked No. 3 WBC, Jose “Chon” Zepeda, 32-2 (25), #143.9, of La Puente, CA, defeated Kendo “El Tremendo” Castaneda, 17-2 (8), #143.9, of San Antonio, over 10 good rounds.

In the first round at the midway point southpaw Zepeda landed a straight left to the mid-section of Castaneda who turned southpaw and seconds back to orthodox. Zepeda was pin pointing his punches. In the second round Castaneda came out southpaw matching jabs. It was close with Zepeda taking another round. In the third round Castaneda continued to box and get out boxed by the boxer. Zepeda in the final seconds of the round landed right hooks to the head of Castaneda.

In the fourth round Zepeda continued to “school” Castaneda who talked prior to the fight about out punching his opponent but is boxing and getting beat. In the fifth round Zepeda used a good body attack. In the sixth round Castaneda finished strong taking his first round.

In the sixth round Castaneda picked up how he finished the previous round outworking Zepeda. In the seventh round it was close with good mixing of punches by both fighters. In the eighth round Zepeda came back the aggressor and landing combinations.

In the tenth and final round Castaneda knowing he is behind tried roughing it up causing a cut with a clash of heads over the right eye of Zepeda. Zepeda out landed him.

Scores Cheatham and Moretti 98-92 with Jarman 97-93 and this writer 98-92. Tony Weeks was the referee.

“Since he hadn’t been on the big stage we knew little about him. I felt I won and want to work harder and harder to get another title fight,” said Zepeda.

In the co-feature Junior Lightweight Andy “El Tiburon” Vences, 23-2-1 (12), #129.5, of San Jose, CA, upset by split decision to Luis “El Venado” Alberto Lopez, 21-2 (11), #128.2, of Mexicali, Baja CA, Mexico, over 10 rounds.

In the first two rounds Lopez took the first and Vences the second. In the third it was close with little landing. In the fourth the shorter Lopez seemed to even the score. In the fifth round Vences picked up the pace. After a clash of heads Vences got a small cut on the forehead while Lopez was cut over the left eye.

In the sixth round Lopez went strong to the body until a right uppercut landed on the chin. Midway through the round Lopez had Vences in trouble with a combination to the chin and hanging on. In the seventh round another clash of heads and Vences was cut along the left eye with blood flowing down the side of his face. He came back head-hunting keeping Lopez on the defense.

In the eighth round Lopez came out moving around the ring suffering a small cut under the right eye. Vences countered well taking the round. In the ninth round Vences continued to outwork Lopez. In the tenth and final round Lopez used uppercuts countering the always coming forward Vences. Referee Kenny Baylis.

Scores were Cheatham and Cheek 96-94 Lopez with DeLuca 96-94 and this writer 97-93 Vences.

“I thought I edged out the win but happy with my performance. The head butts had me cut up like never before. I’m not going to blame anyone for the decision,” said Vences.

Lightweight Andres “Savage” Cortes defeated Alejandro “Popo” Salinas, 10-4 (9), #132.4, of Youngstown, OH, over 8 rounds.

In the first round Salinas kept the pressure on Cortes who finished up strong. In the second round Cortes came back well with good punches to the head Cortes was cut over the left eye by a clash of heads at the end. In the third round both fighters had their moments, in another action packed round. In the fourth round both fighters went at it with a right on the chin driving Cortes to the bottom ropes in the final minute and taking an 8-count from referee Celestine Ruiz.

In the fifth round Cortes came back well to the head of Salinas. In the sixth round Cortes slips out of a clinch landing short rights to the chin of Salinas in a close round. In the seventh round the ring physician took a look at the cut of Cortes’. Cortes may have pulled out the round but looked the worse of the two. In the eighth and final round both continued to slug it out right down to the end.

Scores were Byrd 76-75, Moretti 79-73 and Jarman 77-74 for the winner with this writer 75-74 for the loser.

Welterweight Genaro “El Conde” Gamez, 10-1 (7), #146, of San Diego, CA, stopped Reymond “Robocop” Yanong, 11-6 (9), #141.8, of Paranaque City, PH, at 2:59 of the first in a scheduled 8.

Bantamweight going the distance for the first time Gabriel Muratalla, 4-0 (3), #118.9, of Fontana, CA, defeated Sergio Lopez, 4-6-3 (0), #119.1, of Las Vegas, NV, over 4 solid rounds of action.

In the first round Lopez pressed forward with pre-school teacher Muratalla countering with combinations. Lopez was sparring with Moloney brothers while Muratella is back from last month looking for his fourth straight stoppage. In the second round Muratalla was landing double left hooks to the chin of Lopez. The exchanges were in the middle of the ring.

In the third round Muratalla started going to the body with Lopez hanging in there and scored a big right on the chin in the final minute of the round. In the fourth and final round Muratalla has never gone beyond one round until this match. Muratalls won all four rounds against Lopez who has never been stopped. Tony Weeks was the referee.

Scores were 40-36 twice and 39-37 with this writer’s 40-36.

Lightweight Eric Puente, 3-0 (0), #135, of Vista, CA, won a majority decision over Diego Elizondo, 2-2-2 (0), #135.9, of Carson City, NV, over 4 rounds.