Shakur Stevenson clearly has a point to prove. After Floyd Schofield Jr. pulled out of the fight due to health concerns, Shakur Stevenson silenced some of the noise with a 9th-round TKO over Josh Padley. Still, critics were quick to jump on his back. Despite the win, many felt he should’ve finished the part-time electrician earlier, especially since Padley was a last-minute replacement. It was one of those ‘damned if you do, damned if you don’t’ situations. But now, it feels like the storm clouds might finally be clearing for Shakur Stevenson. So what’s new?
William Zepeda would’ve already shared the ring with Shakur Stevenson if not for that left arm injury that sidelined the Newark native. While it was clear just how eager Stevenson was to make the fight happen, the Mexican warrior chose to settle his unfinished business first. Not only did he take revenge for his split decision victory of last year against Tevin Farmer, but he also claimed the interim WBC lightweight title. So with that title in hand, Zepeda can’t keep kicking the can down the road. And now, the two are officially set to square off on July 12 in New York, just a stone’s throw from Shakur’s hometown of Newark, New Jersey. It’ll be Shakur Stevenson’s third title defense, and the pressure is on. And now, with Zepeda’s promoter Oscar De La Hoya throwing his two cents in, Shakur Stevenson is walking into a lion’s den, he says.
Shakur Stevenson’s sleek but not untouchable
A few hours ago, in a conversation with FightHub TV, the TGB head honcho was seen giving props to Shakur Stevenson. According to the 52-year-old, “Shakur Stevenson is a masterclass boxer. He has a style that not many people can crack it.” You know, the kind of boxer that’s really hard to hit clean and even harder to figure out in the ring. Not a lot of fighters can deal with that kind of style. But Oscar thinks, “You can crack it. There’s many ways of cracking that style.” So, who can do it properly? He believes his fighter, William Zepeda, might be the guy to do it. “I believe William Zepeda has that style,” he claimed.
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Why? Because the Mexican fighter is relentless. The 28-year-old throws “what a thousand punches a fight,” De La Hoya pointed out. That kind of pressure, round after round, is tough to deal with, even for someone as slick as Shakur Stevenson. Which leads to the question, “How is Shakur gonna overcome that onslaught of just relentless round after round?” the former world champion in six weight classes asked curiously. So when the fight really happens, “It’s gonna be very interesting fight. It’s gonna be a fun fight,” De La Hoya assured.
As the interview continued, Oscar De La Hoya also mentioned something interesting. He doesn’t think the Newark native is the type of fighter who’s just gonna run anymore. “I think Shakur Stevenson is not a fighter to run anymore. I think he has a lot to prove. I think he wants to fight.” Like, he wants to show fans he’s not just a defensive guy—he actually wants to get in there and fight. So De La Hoya’s expecting this matchup to be more action-packed than people might think. It could be a really fun one to watch.
Bottom line? It’s brains vs. pressure, and Oscar De La Hoya’s super curious to see how it plays out. But if Shakur Stevenson fights him now, what about a fight with Gervonta Davis? Eddie Hearn had the answer.
Shakur Stevenson stands at a crossroad
Last month, Fight Hub TV sat down with Stevenson’s promoter Eddie Hearn for a one-on-one, and naturally, the conversation kicked off with the big question. What’s next for Shakur Stevenson? Now, we all know a fight with Gervonta Davis is what fans have been craving for years, but the timing is messy right now. That March 1st bout ended in a draw with Lamont Roach Jr., and with legacies on the line and a rematch looming in Tank’s camp, nothing is set in stone just yet. Still, the possibility of Shakur Stevenson vs. Tank isn’t off the table—it’s just… complicated.
Eddie Hearn made it clear they’re not closing the door. In fact, he said they’re more than willing to wait until September if that’s what it takes. “We’ll go straight into a Tank fight if they want. Tank’s fighting, I think, on June 21st. We’re happy to wait till September for that fight,” Hearn explained. But that’s not the only option for the 23-0 boxer.
As for other names being tossed around—like Tevin Farmer—Hearn wasn’t too interested. He pretty much shut that idea down, saying it’s not a fight fans are asking for and it wouldn’t really fire Shakur Stevenson up. And he’s got a point. Rushing into a clash with someone like the Baltimore native without being 100% ready? That’s like walking a tightrope with no safety net. Given Tank’s unclear plans and those retirement rumors floating around, Team Shakur Stevenson would be smart to stay patient, keep their options open, and play this one carefully.
With that said, can Shakur Stevenson handle the relentless pressure of William Zepeda’s style? Has Oscar De La Hoya made a fair assessment of Shakur Stevenson’s fighting style, or is it just mind games? Do share your thoughts with us below.
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