Jose “Chon” Zepeda officially received the belt that accredits him as WBC silver junior welterweight world champion, at a press conference held at the Zanfer executive offices.

From the hands of WBC President Mauricio Sulaimán, and serving as honorary witnesses - the president of Zanfer, Fernando Beltrán, and the recently appointed president of Fecombox, Juan Carlos Pelayo - Zepeda said he felt privileged and proud to receive the belt, which he warned that he hopes to turn gold in the near future.

“I am very proud and very motivated to receive this recognition. We didn't plan a fight like that [with Ivan Baranchyk] but that's how it turned out and I'm very happy to have won it and received this belt," Zepeda said.

"This win has given us a lot of world attention, and I hope that José Carlos Ramírez [WBC and WBO champion] whom I already faced and for many I beat him, and I think I beat him... when he has all four titles [after facing IBF, WBA champion Josh Taylor] - let's face each other again. I'm already the official challenger, although I could also go down to lightweight to face the winner of Lomachenko and López."

At the time of giving him the silver belt, Sulaimán acknowledged that Zepeda is the example of the spirit and heart of a true Mexican warrior inside the ring, and encouraged him to continue preparing to take advantage of the opportunity to become a world champion .

"For the WBC it is a pleasure and real pride to give the belt to boxers who leave everything in the ring and who are an example outside of it. Zepeda is a great silver world champion and we give him his belt with all honor and merit," Sulaiman explained.

Beltrán, pointed out that Zepeda wrote his name in gold letters in the history of boxing, with his war against Baranchyk - that saw a total of eight knockdowns and Zepeda scoring a brutal KO to close the show in round five.

“What a great fight, one of those historical ones from a movie... Zepeda just gave that to us, he is deservedly silver world champion and soon he will be absolute world champion. He is at the level of the best......... and for many people, and me personally - he has already beaten champion José Carlos Ramírez, and we hope to face him again soon,” said Beltrán.