Ever since William Zepeda secured his win against Tevin Farmer in Cancún, Shakur Stevenson has been noticeably mum. As the WBC lightweight champion with a flawless 23-0 record, it’s not typical behavior, especially as he anticipates facing Zepeda next. Could it be that Shakur doesn’t want to appear overeager and signal to Golden Boy that he’s viewing Zepeda as an easy victory?
De La Hoya’s Cautionary Note
Oscar De La Hoya should be paying attention to Shakur’s unusual quietness—it could be a hint. It’s almost as if Stevenson sees the Mexican fighter as just a stepping stone towards the mega showdown with Gervonta Davis that he’s dreaming of. When Shakur doubts his ability to defeat someone, he either outright disregards them or avoids mentioning their names altogether, much like he does with fighters such as Andy Cruz, Raymond Muratalla, and Abdullah Mason. Those guys are real threats, standing between him and the lucrative bout with Gervonta Davis he’s been eyeing.
The ‘Untouchable’ Opponents
These fighters form what one might call Shakur’s "untouchable" category. Despite his tendency to boast, Shakur is quite strategic—almost like a cunning spider—when choosing opponents. Take, for example, his recent decision to face Josh Padley as a substitute after his initial choice, the young Floyd Schofield, pulled out of their scheduled bout in February. Instead of going toe to toe with knockout specialist Jadier Herrera, Shakur chose Padley, a less threatening figure. Herrera’s power means he only needs to land one significant punch to deliver a knockout, making him a risky proposition for anyone, including Shakur. Thus, the safer choice was made—Padley.
Zepeda, on the other hand, took quite a few hits from Farmer, who’s considered an aging and beatable gatekeeper. This makes Zepeda seem less of a danger to someone like Shakur. Unless a fight with Stevenson offers a financial windfall, Golden Boy Promotions might be wiser to steer Zepeda towards a clash with Tank Davis for the WBA belt. Stevenson’s defensive style won’t mesh well with Zepeda’s approach in the ring.
Boxing News 24 » Shakur Stevenson’s Ominous Silence After Zepeda Win: Is It a Sign of Underestimation or a Calculated Ploy?
