Paul Hodkinson vs Ricardo Cepeda

On February 3, 1993, Earls Court Arena in London hosted a significant featherweight bout. WBC World Featherweight champion Paul Hodkinson defended his title against Ricardo Cepeda of Puerto Rico. This contest was showcased under the banner of Queensberry Promotions and broadcast on ITV's "The Big Fight Live," drawing considerable attention.

Both fighters weighed in at 125¾ lbs, indicating a physically even matchup. Hodkinson, hailing from Liverpool, entered the ring with a record of 21 wins, 1 loss, and 1 draw. His lone defeat had come against Marcos Villasana, but he had since avenged this loss and was making his third title defence. Cepeda's record stood at 23 wins, 2 losses, and 1 draw, and he was coming off a contentious decision loss to the same Villasana, setting the stage for a closely contested clash.

The fight started with both boxers demonstrating sharp skills, but Hodkinson quickly established dominance. In the second round, he landed a decisive combination that sent Cepeda to the canvas, leading referee Franz Marti to administer an eight-count. Cepeda managed to recover and see out the round.

By the third round, Hodkinson intensified his assault, progressively breaking Cepeda's defences. This onslaught continued into the fourth round, where Hodkinson, not allowing the fight to swing back in favour of Cepeda, connected with a potent left hook early in the round. This punch effectively ended the contest, as Cepeda's corner signalled their concession by stepping onto the apron, prompting Marti to halt the fight at 37 seconds into the fourth round.