Tevin Farmer says Shakur Stevenson must truly “battle” William Zepeda to win as a result of he throws too many punches for him to keep away from all of them.
WBC light-weight champion Shakur will battle #1 ranked Zepeda (32-0, 27 KOs) in 2025, offered he wins his title protection towards Floyd Schofield on February twenty second in Riyadh. Shakur is assured that he’ll defeat Zepeda, however Farmer has his doubts.
Zepeda’s Quantity Punching
He clearly is aware of that the hit-and-run type that Stevenson makes use of received’t preserve Zepeda off of him as a result of he cuts off the ring effectively, and he’s keen to take photographs to land his. Shakur has no energy in any respect, and he received’t have the ability to escape Zepeda with out working.
That’s not going to work. He’s going to look unhealthy in entrance of Turki Alalshikh if he tries that tactic towards Zepeda in Riyadh.
With Zepeda’s excessive quantity output of 100+ punches per spherical, Farmer states that Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) must battle him as he did of their conflict final month on November sixteenth. Farmer (33-7-1, 8 KOs) tried to defend towards Zepeda’s quite a few photographs, but it surely was ineffective.
The previous IBF tremendous featherweight champion Farmer was pressured to brawl with him, and he couldn’t sustain, particularly within the championship rounds.
Zepeda wore Farmer down together with his physique punching and quantity to win a 10-round break up resolution. The scores have been 95-95, 95-94 for Zepeda, and 95-94 for Farmer. I watched the battle and I had Zepeda profitable 8-2. It appeared the judges who labored the battle weren’t factoring within the quite a few physique photographs Zepeda was touchdown in each spherical. They have been simply taking a look at headshots, which Farmer targeted on.
If it had been a 12-round contest, he would have knocked out Farmer as a result of the 34-year-old was exhausted by the ninth spherical and wouldn’t have made it the total twelve rounds with out getting stopped.
“Golden Boy is keen to make it. The one manner the rematch doesn’t occur is that if Zepeda’s crew says no,” stated Tevin Farmer to the Cigar Speak channel in regards to the rematch he needs towards William Zepeda after shedding to him on November 16.
“Golden Boy needs to make the rematch. I ain’t saying no person instructed me nothing. I’m saying Golden Boy needs to make the rematch. I’m fairly positive Turki needs to make it. It was a hell of a battle.
“You bought to make Zepeda respect you to do, as a result of for those who don’t, he’s going to maintain shifting ahead,” stated Farmer when requested how Shakur Stevenson would do towards William Zepeda.
Farmer’s hopes of a rematch with Zepeda are wishful pondering as a result of Golden Boy isn’t going to push for that battle. They know that the cash battle, the one which Zepeda wants and desires, is towards Shakur. Farmer has nothing to supply Zepeda. He’s not a champion and has misplaced his final two fights.
Farmer wants to maneuver again all the way down to tremendous featherweight as a result of he lacks the ability to beat the lightweights. If he stays within the 135-lb weight class, he’ll proceed to lose and can be pressured out of the sport.
Shakur Warned On Zepeda
“Zepeda is a stress fighter, and he didn’t throw so many punches; it’s simple to select somebody aside like that,” stated Farmer. “It’s simple to select somebody aside that comes ahead and doesn’t throw that many punches. When any person comes ahead and throws so many punches, what number of punches are you able to make any person miss, even with my protection?
“I’m top-of-the-line defensive fighters. I can stand there and never get hit if I need to. I do know I can’t do this as a result of what number of punches can I slip? Yeah, Shakur goes to must battle [Zepeda]. Shakur, to me, is likely one of the finest on the earth, however he’s going to must battle,” stated Farmer.
Zepeda pressured Farmer to brawl with him as a result of he was reducing off the ring and trapping him towards the ropes. It was both Farmer having to battle, or he would have gotten knocked out by Zepeda. It’ll be the identical factor with Shakur. He doesn’t have the ability, toughness, or braveness that Farmer has. There’s no manner that Stevenson would have been in a position to take the form of photographs that Farmer did towards Zepeda with out getting knocked out or working & holding.
“I’m not saying he has to do what I did. I’m constructed completely different. I bought a chin, I can ship, and I can do all that. I’m not saying he [Shakur] don’t, however he’s going to must battle,” stated Farmer about how he’s higher than Stevenson as a result of he’ll truly stand within the pocket and be keen to commerce.
“I really feel I ought to have gotten the victory. With the knockdown, that was icing on the cake for me to edge it out. Everybody has their opinion, however I don’t care,” stated Farmer about his perception that he did sufficient to deserve a win towards Zepeda.
