Shakur Stevenson claims he’s anxious and “can’t wait” till his deliberate struggle in opposition to his #1 ranked contender, William Zepeda, occurs in early 2025. Stevenson is speaking daring proper now whereas he’s convalescing, however he might change his tune when wholesome.
The Eddie Hearn-promoted Shakur is out of fee now and coping with a hand situation. WBC light-weight champion Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) is on the shelf after right-hand surgical procedure as a consequence of a coaching damage that worn out his title protection in opposition to Joe Cordina on October twelfth in Riyadh.
Shakur, 27, was speculated to be headlining the undercard portion of the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol occasion on DAZN PPV. Stevenson wants a strong win to create fan curiosity for a unification match in opposition to WBA ‘common’ light-weight champion Gervonta Davis.
The three-division world champion Stevenson’s final two fights have been terrible in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan and Edwin De Los Santos. Each contests have been loudly booed by the followers at ringside, and folks on social media criticized him.
Surprisingly, Hearn nonetheless felt that Shakur was price signing to his Matchroom promotional firm. He’s been speaking about turning him right into a “world famous person,” which suggests to some that he has no understanding of what U.S. followers view as leisure.
Shakur’s combating fashion is what passes for leisure within the UK however not within the U.S. Individuals aren’t excited by that archaic Mayweather-esque fashion.
Zepeda is taking a stay-busy struggle in opposition to former tremendous featherweight world champion Tevin Farmer on November sixteenth at The Venue in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
After that struggle, Zepeda might be able to problem Shakur for his WBC title if he could make it by coaching camp with out struggling one other damage breakdown.
If Stevenson goes by with the struggle with Zepeda, it may finish badly for him as a result of the Mexican energy puncher has the ability and expertise he’s not outfitted to deal with.
Shakur hasn’t appeared good since transferring as much as the 135-lb division in 2023, and his damage issues are making him a sickbay commando. Final November, Stevenson blamed his poor efficiency in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos on being injured.
Nobody believed Shakur as a result of that’s how he at all times fought. Nonetheless, if Shakur actually was injured within the De Los Santos struggle, it reveals that he’s not bodily able to combating at 135 with out falling aside.
His accidents sign that Stevenson’s physique can’t deal with the pains of the light-weight division, the place the fighters are a lot stronger and rugged than the fighters at 126 and 130. If Shakur returned from whence he got here at tremendous featherweight, he may get wholesome once more.
Yooooo I swear I can’t wait til struggle day 😂😂 https://t.co/71EOHDKNEc
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) September 22, 2024
