Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 10 KOs) delivered a definitive statement on Saturday night, defending his WBC lightweight title in emphatic fashion with a lopsided decision win over previously unbeaten William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs). In doing so, Stevenson not only silenced critics who had questioned his risk averse style in recent outings, but reasserted himself as one of boxing’s pound-for-pound elite on the co-main event on Ring III” pay-per-view main event at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.
Judge Kevin Morgan scored 11 rounds for Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs), who won this battle between southpaws 119-109 on his card. Judges Mike Fitzgerald and Glenn Feldman scored 10 rounds each for Stevenson, who won 118-110 apiece according to them.
Different level of class on display
Stevenson controlled every aspect of the fight. He showed superior boxing skills, great counter-punching, and just complete sharpness to the point where Zepeda had absolutely no answer for the champion. This was a complete masterclass of a performance by Stevenson.
“I came in here to prove a point,” Stevenson told DAZN’s Chris Mannix in the ring. “It wasn’t the performance I was looking for because I came in here to try and prove a point and I was tryin’ to fight, so I took more punishment than usual. But, at the end of the day, I told y’all, whatever it takes to get the job done. I got dog in me. I’m not no puppy, I’m not no poodle.
“I’m a tough guy, so I got dog in me. I fought, I proved that I’m a dog. That was one of the toughest fighters at 135 pounds. I want a lotta people to get in the ring with him, and see how tough he is. So, he came in, he pushed me, pushed me to another level.”
Welcome to Dice City Sports — where we provide premium, exclusive, up-to-date news and analysis surrounding the Las Vegas sports scene. Follow along on social media, and check back for new articles daily!
Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
