WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) is one of the most talented and intriguing boxers in the sport. His defensive abilities have been compared to some of boxing’ all-time greats. However, in a sport where many fans measure fighters on offense and knockouts over defense, the superiority of Stevenson is often overlooked, and he may be underrated.
The Newark native is hoping a successful title defense against William Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs) at Louis Armstrong Stadium at the USTA Billie Jean King National Tennis Center in Queens on Saturday, July 12 will help change critics’ perspective. “You got a live dog,” said Stevenson, speaking to the AmNews of the 29-year-old Zepeda. “You got a guy that’s been waiting for his moment since he was a child too. I’ve (known) him since like 15 or 16 years old, so he has been waiting for this opportunity. He’s undefeated. He’s going to work extremely hard. He’s going to go and give everything he’s got. That’s what makes him a dangerous fighter. But I don’t think he wants it more than me. I don’t think nobody wants it more than me.” Stevenson, 28. who was named after the late hip-hop icon Tupac Shakur, won a silver medal at the 2016 Rio Olympics in the bantamweight division and turned professional a year later. His prowess are admired by one of the best ever. “I hear stuff from Floyd (Mayweather Jr.),” said Stevenson of the 48-year-old retired former holder of 15 major world championships. “I watched the work that Floyd put in. I go back and look at the videos of Floyd Mayweather’s work, and then I got a lot more work to do. I’m not there yet. I don’t see myself like that. I want to get there. That’s the level that I want to reach.”
Stevenson knows the only way to gain the recognition he believes he deserves is by defeating some of the best in the business, starting with Zepeda. “There is only one fight I want, but we have to get past Zepeda first,” said Stevenson “But there’s only one fight I want – me and Tank (WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis).” With the exorbitant paydays the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority under the direction of its chairman, Turki Alalshikh, are affording boxing’s top competitors, such as bankrolling the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford match up scheduled for September 13 in Las Vegas, Stevenson versus Davis may happen soon.