Promoter Eddie Hearn says William Zepeda will “duck” Shakur Stevenson in early 2025 reasonably than taking that struggle. He doesn’t say why he thinks Zepeda would try this as a result of he’s been arduous, climbing the ranks to problem Shakur for his WBC light-weight title.
Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) isn’t the kind to duck anybody, contemplating he’s been calling out Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) for the reason that New Jersey native gained the WBC 135-lb belt final November.
Will probably be a giant letdown for Hearn if Zepeda knocks out Shakur as a result of he signed him to an costly two-fight cope with Matchroom with the concept of organising for a mega-fight in opposition to Gervonta Davis in 2025.
What Hearn ought to do is match Shakur in opposition to a weak opponent like Joe Cordina when he comes again from his hand surgical procedure in early 2025 after which make the struggle with Gervonta Davis in mid-2025. Shakur can beat Cordina.
Hearn has been speaking about turning Shakur right into a “world famous person” in a short while, making some followers wonder if he’s really watched him struggle earlier than. If Hearn had watched Shakur struggle, he’d know he’s deadweight and never somebody able to beating Zepeda, Tank David, Abdullah Mason, or Vasily Lomachenko.
Shakur hasn’t proven the flexibility to be a star of any form. Proper now, he’s only a man who gained the WBC title in a struggle that was booed nonstop in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos final yr. He’s solely fought as soon as since, laboring to a uninteresting 12-round choice in opposition to the light-hitting Artem Harutyunyan, who was coming off a loss to Frank Martin.
Zepeda’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy, needs Stevenson and views him as very beatable for the Mexican knockout artist. The 28-year-old Zepeda is rated #1 with the IBF, WBA, WBC, and WBO at light-weight.
Subsequent month, Zepeda is taking over the artful former IBF tremendous featherweight champion Tevin Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) as a tune-up opponent on November sixteenth on “Latino Night time” at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
“For my part, Zepeda will duck Shakur,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to Battle Hub TV, predicting that William Zepeda will swerve a title shot in opposition to WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson in early 2025.
Hearn might find yourself wishing that Zepeda ducked Shakur, given this struggle might go badly for the WBC 135-lb champion. Shakur barely beat Edwin De Los Santos final November, being pressured to maneuver to all evening in a struggle that would have gone both approach. Zepeda is much better at reducing off the ring than De Los Santos, and he’s going to be attacking the whole evening.
In Shakur’s final struggle in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan, we noticed that he lacks the offensive expertise to face his floor along with his opponents at light-weight and is pressured to maneuver. Shakur gained’t final any longer than Giovanni Cabrera, Maxi Hughes, and Mercito Gesta if he stands and fights Zepeda.
“Hear, it’s his greatest shot proper now. Shakur is coming off the hand operation, and he’s going to be coming straight again into the struggle. Zepeda has bought the warmup struggle in opposition to Tevin Farmer [on November 16th]. It’s a pleasant model to gear up for Shakur. I don’t assume Oscar [De La Hoya] will do it. It’ll eat him up too dangerous,” mentioned Hearn.
Hopefully, Hearn isn’t banking on Zepeda ducking the struggle in opposition to Shakur as a result of that can in all probability not occur. Why would Zepeda duck a struggle in opposition to Shakur and miss out on his quickest path to a world title?
It’s not like Gervonta will give Zepeda an opportunity to struggle for his belt or IBF champ Lomachenko. If Zepeda doesn’t reap the benefits of this chance to struggle Shakur for his belt, it might take years for him to get one other likelihood.
