WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson sticks out as one of the most talented fighters in the sport but still lacks the profile to boot, struggling to cultivate the fandom and support that his fellow 135lb title-holders boast. As Stevenson hopes to earn the respect of fans around the globe, the defensive mastermind has announced a fight that is sure to capture their attention.
After picking up the silver medal at the Rio 2016 Olympics, Stevenson turned professional the following year and soon rose into featherweight world title contention, outpointing Joet Gonzalez for the WBO crown in October 2019.
However, the slick southpaw made the decision to immediately move up to 130lb and needed just three bouts at the weight before jumping into another world title showdown, where he knocked out Jamel Herring (WBO) to become a two-division world champion.
Stevenson then unified the WBO and WBC super-featherweight straps with a dominant unanimous-decision against Oscar Valdez, only to be stripped of the belts for missing weight against Robson Conceicao in the outing that followed.
Once again, Stevenson decided to move up in weight, halting Shuichiro Yoshino at 135lbs before picking up the WBC title in a famously dull and close encounter with Edwin De Los Santos that was criticized by the masses.
This caused Stevenson to temporarily retire, frustrated at that fact that skills were being under-appreciated and that potentially legacy-defining mega-fights were not happening.
Yet, the 27-year-old has since returned to action and routed Artem Harutyunyan in a first defence of the WBC lightweight title back in July, but still lacks the standout name on his résumé that would thrust him into contention for the pound-for-pound throne.
Now, whilst maintaining that he is chasing unification showdowns with Gervonta Davis and Vasyl Lomachenko, Stevenson (22-0) has confirmed that he will take on WBC mandatory challenger William Zepeda (31-0) in February – an opponent whom some believe could cause him problems.
Dude lying his ass off, I wanted to fight Zepeda in Oct I was told he was having a baby so he won’t gone be ready to fight until February.. I didn’t even know he was fighting in Nov I was upset when I seen that shit. #Facts but look we here now so February we gone get it in 😎 https://t.co/rVFVUxMg4l
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 8, 2024
WE HERE NOW THE LIES CANT SAVE YALL THE FIGHT IS HAPPENING.. Reporters put this guy ahead of me and he’s not even champion.. They think this a dangerous fight for me coming off a hand injury so let’s find out cmon!
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 8, 2024
Facts when the hate don’t work they start telling lies 🦾 It’s good when I fry him in Feb they all gone look stupid.. Then they gone say he trash he was a bum! https://t.co/eigw3r2AEn
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) November 8, 2024
“I wanted to fight Zepeda in Oct I was told he was having a baby so he won’t gone be ready to fight until February. I didn’t even know he was fighting in Nov I was upset when I seen that s**t. #Facts but look we here now so February we gone get it in.”
“WE HERE NOW THE LIES CANT SAVE YALL THE FIGHT IS HAPPENING. Reporters put this guy ahead of me and he’s not even champion. They think this a dangerous fight for me coming off a hand injury so let’s find out cmon!”
“Facts when the hate don’t work they start telling lies . It’s good when I fry him in Feb they all gone look stupid. Then they gone say he trash he was a bum!”
As Stevenson states, Zepeda will first take on former super-featherweight champion Tevin Farmer as a part of the ‘Latino Night’ bill in Saudi Arabia next weekend.
Assuming the Mexican comes through that contest unscathed, Stevenson and Zepeda are expected to meet on a mammoth February 22nd card in the Kingdom, reportedly joining Daniel Dubois, Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr. on a star-studded fight night.
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