Shakur Stevenson, an undefeated three-division world champion and one of the biggest names on the card, was surprisingly pushed to the co-main event by Turki Aralsif, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Bureau, because his bout was deemed not entertaining enough. Instead, Edgar Berlanga, who suffered a decisive one-sided loss to Canelo Alvarez in September, was elevated to the main event.
Aralsif had previously expressed his dislike for “Tom & Jerry Fights,” where one boxer avoids the other. Stevenson himself promised that he would not run from his opponent in his WBC lightweight title defense against aggressive challenger William Zepeda. Fighting at Louis Armstrong Stadium, Stevenson delivered a dominant performance, nearly shutting out Zepeda and securing a unanimous decision.
After Hamzah Sheeraz’s knockout of Berlanga in the main event, it became clear Stevenson deserved a higher placement on the card. Post-fight, Stevenson admitted he didn’t perform exactly as he wanted, stating he was focused on proving a point and took more punishment than usual.
Compubox statistics showed Stevenson landed 52.2% of his punches (295 out of 565), significantly out-landing Zepeda, who only connected on 27.8% of his punches (272 of 979). Despite Stevenson’s claim that he absorbed more punishment than normal, his effective lateral movement and defensive skills kept him largely in control. He won 10 of 12 rounds on two judges’ scorecards and 11 on the third.
Following the fight, Aralsif publicly acknowledged Stevenson’s dominance, but the champion’s co-main event status raised questions. Stevenson’s victory proved he doesn’t need to change his style to please casual fans craving knockouts. The article argued against pressuring fighters to abandon sound boxing techniques for entertainment value, emphasizing that boxing is an art that requires skill and defense.
Stevenson showed he can fight proactively when necessary, but the burden to defeat him should rest with his challengers. Hopefully, this will be the last time a fighter is penalized for demonstrating excellence in the ring.
Fan Take: This situation highlights the ongoing tension between entertainment value and pure skill in boxing, reminding fans and promoters alike that true greatness isn’t always flashy but is rooted in mastery of the sport. For fight fans, Stevenson’s story serves as a call to appreciate technical brilliance and not just highlight-reel knockouts, potentially shaping how boxing events are promoted going forward.
