Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) vowed to defend his title and put on an exciting show, and while he didn’t achieve a knockout against William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs), the WBC lightweight champion demonstrated his skill with a masterful performance. At Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, Stevenson controlled the fight from start to finish, securing a unanimous decision victory with two judges scoring it 118-110 and one scoring it 119-109.
Throughout the 12 rounds, Stevenson absorbed a flurry of punches from Zepeda, mainly on his arms and shoulders, while countering with precise jabs, uppercuts, and combinations that troubled his opponent. Despite a powerful right hand landed by Zepeda in the third round, Stevenson largely remained unbothered. Zepeda’s constant punch volume gave Stevenson ample opportunities to counter, and by the later rounds, the champion was confidently dictating the pace with well-placed hooks to the head and body. Though never seriously hurt, Zepeda found himself outmatched by the sharp, calculated fighting of the Newark, New Jersey native.
This showing confirmed Stevenson’s status as a top-tier headliner capable of delivering thrilling performances when needed. He clearly made a statement by dominating a fighter expected to challenge him.
Following this bout, the main event featured Edgar Berlanga facing Hamza Sheeraz, who dropped Berlanga twice in the fourth round before finishing him early in the fifth round. Sheeraz (22-0-1, 18 KOs), who was coming off a draw against WBC middleweight champion Carlos Adams in February, returned to the knockout trail with this victory. Berlanga (23-2, 18 KOs), once known for his streak of 16 consecutive first-round KOs, has seen his knockout frequency dip, with only two stoppages in his last eight fights. His only loss prior to this was a unanimous decision to Canelo Alvarez last year.
Below are the results from the main card along with a detailed round-by-round analysis.
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Fan Take: This event highlights the relentless evolution of fighters like Stevenson, who blend technical skill with high-level excitement, promising more electrifying matchups ahead. For fight fans, it underscores the rising depth in lightweight and middleweight divisions, signaling a thrilling future for the sport.
