WBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson is gearing up for his mandatory title defense against challenger William Zepeda on July 12th. The impressive size of both fighters’ shoulders caught attention as Stevenson, a 28-year-old southpaw with a 23-0 record and 11 knockouts, prepares to prove doubters wrong. Despite accusations of having a dull fighting style, Stevenson, who won a Silver medal at the 2016 Olympics, has been urged by his promoter to fight in a smaller ring to limit his movement and make the bouts more exciting.
As Stevenson gets ready for his third title defense against undefeated Mexican boxer Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs), he reflects on being booed by his hometown crowd during a previous fight against Artem Harutyunyan in 2024 and feels misunderstood in the sport. He emphasizes fighting on his own terms: “I don’t have to fight someone else’s fight; I fight mine because I know I can win.” He dismisses his critics bluntly, showing his focus and confidence.
The upcoming match will take place at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, and will headline the first boxing event under “The Ring” series, a new promotional venture by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority, who acquired the famous magazine last year. Stevenson expressed gratitude to Alalshikh for making the fight happen after a long chase, noting the promotion’s aim to encourage more aggressive, less evasive boxing – something Alalshikh calls an end to “Tom and Jerry” style fights marked by excessive movement rather than engagement.
Stevenson criticized the notion of “no running” placed on fighters, defending boxing legends like Terence Crawford, and argued that every fighter works hard and uses the ring as needed. Though disappointed about Zepeda’s placement as co-main event, Stevenson respects the decisions made behind the scenes and remains concentrated on his training. He also mentioned being caught off guard by some of Alalshikh’s tweets trolling fighters but remains focused on his own path forward.
Fan Take: This fight matters to fight fans because it highlights Shakur Stevenson’s desire to silence critics and elevate his status as an exciting champion. The involvement of Turki Alalshikh and his push for more offensive boxing could signal a transformative shift in how matches are promoted and fought, potentially making the sport more thrilling for audiences worldwide.
