Promoter Eddie Hearn says William Zepeda will “duck” Shakur Stevenson in early 2025 somewhat than taking that battle. He doesn’t say why he thinks Zepeda would do this as a result of he’s been laborious, climbing the ranks to problem Shakur for his WBC light-weight title.
Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) isn’t the sort 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 an enormous letdown for Hearn if Zepeda knocks out Shakur as a result of he signed him to an costly two-fight take care of Matchroom with the thought of organising for a mega-fight towards Gervonta Davis in 2025.
What Hearn ought to do is match Shakur towards a weak opponent like Joe Cordina when he comes again from his hand surgical procedure in early 2025 after which make the battle with Gervonta Davis in mid-2025. Shakur can beat Cordina.
Hearn has been speaking about turning Shakur right into a “world celebrity” in a short while, making some followers ponder whether he’s really watched him battle earlier than. If Hearn had watched Shakur battle, 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 variety. Proper now, he’s only a man who gained the WBC title in a battle that was booed nonstop towards Edwin De Los Santos final yr. He’s solely fought as soon as since, laboring to a boring 12-round choice towards 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 up the artful former IBF tremendous featherweight champion Tevin Farmer (33-6-1, 8 KOs) as a tune-up opponent on November sixteenth on “Latino Evening” 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 towards WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson in early 2025.
Hearn might find yourself wishing that Zepeda ducked Shakur, given this battle may go badly for the WBC 135-lb champion. Shakur barely beat Edwin De Los Santos final November, being pressured to maneuver to all night time in a battle that might have gone both method. Zepeda is much better at slicing off the ring than De Los Santos, and he’s going to be attacking all the night time.
In Shakur’s final battle towards Artem Harutyunyan, we noticed that he lacks the offensive abilities to face his floor together 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.
“Pay attention, 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 battle. Zepeda has acquired the warmup battle towards Tevin Farmer [on November 16th]. It’s a pleasant fashion to gear up for Shakur. I don’t assume Oscar [De La Hoya] will do it. It’ll eat him up too unhealthy,” mentioned Hearn.
Hopefully, Hearn isn’t banking on Zepeda ducking the battle towards Shakur as a result of that may in all probability not occur. Why would Zepeda duck a battle towards Shakur and miss out on his quickest path to a world title?
It’s not like Gervonta will give Zepeda an opportunity to battle for his belt or IBF champ Lomachenko. If Zepeda doesn’t make the most of this chance to battle Shakur for his belt, it may take years for him to get one other probability.
