William Zepeda’s coach, known as Panda, recently revealed a surprising twist in the boxing world. It seems Shakur Stevenson declined a fight against Zepeda, which was scheduled for May 3rd. This bout would have taken place on the undercard of the Canelo Alvarez vs. William Scull event in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
### Zepeda’s Challenge
Panda explained that they were informed the proposed fight with Zepeda was “too soon” for Shakur, who boasts a record of 23-0 with 11 knockouts. This statement only fuels the ongoing chatter among fans that the Newark native might be strategically avoiding tougher opponents, sticking instead to less challenging fighters to protect his undefeated status.
Personally, I find this situation disappointing. It seems clear that Shakur is sidestepping genuine challenges to maintain his WBC lightweight title and keep his unblemished record intact. A clash with Zepeda, who is undefeated with 32 wins and 27 knockouts, would certainly pose a significant threat. It’s likely that in such a fight, Shakur would be constantly on the move, attempting to evade the relentless barrage of punches from Zepeda.
“Following Shakur’s recent victory against Josh Padley, we were supposed to face him in Saudi Arabia on May 4th, but someone thought it was too soon,” Coach Panda mentioned to MillCity Boxing regarding Stevenson’s reluctance to fight Zepeda shortly after his February win over Padley. “Yes, it was supposed to be on the undercard of the Canelo vs. Scull event in Saudi Arabia.”
### Stevenson’s Game Plan
Stevenson’s tactic of avoiding high-caliber opponents indefinitely won’t secure him a fight with Tank Davis, who is surely wary of Shakur’s strategies after the uneasy matchup with Edwin De Los Santos. It’s a clever maneuver, but the WBC needs to step up and ensure Shakur either faces off against Zepeda or the top-ranking contender, Andy Cruz. He can’t just sit on his WBC belt, biding his time for a lucrative fight with someone like Davis since his lightweight debut in 2023.
Should he suffer a defeat against any top contenders at 135 pounds, the lucrative opportunity against Gervonta Davis that Shakur has been eagerly chasing could vanish. That explains why, when his scheduled opponent Floyd Schofield, then a fresh 22-year-old, withdrew from their February 22nd fight in Riyadh, Shakur opted for the less dangerous Josh Padley, who has a modest knockout record. By choosing Padley over the explosive Cuban talent, Jadier Herrera, Shakur’s motives become quite apparent. No longer can there be doubts about him safeguarding his undefeated record.
In the realm of boxing strategy and spectacle, every decision counts, and Shakur’s choices speak volumes about his approach to his career at the moment.
