Shakur Stevenson could have to take a tuneup earlier than defending his WBC light-weight title in opposition to #1 rated challenger William Zepeda.
These two have been talked about probably combating on February twenty second in Riyadh, however Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) is coming off hand surgical procedure, and it might be a tricky combat for him to leap straight into what can be a grueling protection in opposition to Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs).
Promoter Eddie Hearn desires to maintain Shakur unbeaten lengthy sufficient to get the profitable combat in opposition to Gervonta Davis, however it might be an act of incompetence if he have been to permit him to combat Zepeda with out a tune-up. Even Shakur would agree with that.
Shakur has talked boldly on X about how he’s going to simply deal with Zepeda, however he is aware of what he can be up in opposition to if he took this combat even when 100% wholesome. To tackle a fighter that cuts off the ring and assaults the physique like Zepeda, Shakur will should be at his finest.
Zepeda man is nothing just like the fighters Shakur has padded his file with since turning professional in 2017, and he wouldn’t have the ability to maintain him off with jabs and motion as he did in opposition to fighters at 130 and 126.
“It’s already considerably within the works. So, I do see this combat taking place. I feel Shakur takes Zepeda aside,” mentioned Chris Algieri to Probox TV, predicting a simple victory for WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson over William Zepeda on February twenty second if the 2 meet then.
Shakur-Zepeda has been talked about for the final couple of months, and Shakur’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, desires it to occur in February as a result of he wants this win to place himself for a unification combat in opposition to WBA light-weight champion Gervonta Davis in the summertime of 2025.
“A mode like Zepeda, and he’s very spectacular, throws a ton of punches. He can punch, he’s sturdy, he can come ahead, and he has a lot sneakier protection than he reveals. However when you will have a grasp of protection the way in which Shakur is, the way in which he’s capable of preserve that jab in your face and make you miss by an inch after which counter-punch you.
Since transferring as much as 135, Shakur has fought just one good fighter, Edwin De Los Santos and his victory in opposition to him was questionable as a result of lack of offense. Shakur was actually operating from De Los Santos and being booed like mad by the followers on the T-Cell Area in Las Vegas.
The judges gave Shakur the choice to win, nevertheless it was a doubtful victory. His excuse after the combat about having accidents didn’t take properly with the followers, who’d seen him combat the identical approach in opposition to the strain fighters Jeremiah Nakathilia and Joet Gonzalez.
“He’s capable of gradual the tempo down, analyze and acquire knowledge all evening lengthy; I don’t see Zepeda having the ability to overcome that management of distance and that means to keep up vary,” mentioned Algieri, persevering with to reward the finesse-level fighter, Shakur. “For me, that’s undoubtedly a Shakur combat, however pay attention, it is a combat we’re most likely going to see.”
Shakur clearly isn’t nearly as good of a fighter as the image that Algieri paints of him. He was at his finest at featherweight and tremendous featherweight, however he’s not proven the identical form of means since transferring as much as 135. He’s not fought an opponent that averages 100+ punches thrown per spherical like Zepeda, and he’s not needed to face somebody who cuts off the ring and assaults the physique the way in which he does.
“I don’t suppose it’s subsequent like everyone seems to be saying as a result of Shakur is coming off a hand damage/surgical procedure to go proper right into a combat with man like Zepeda, who’s going to return proper at you with a tough head. That’s most likely not the perfect concept, and it’s most likely not going to occur straight away. I do suppose we’re going to see this combat in 2025,” mentioned Algieri.