After years of anticipation, WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson will finally step into the ring to face unbeaten challenger William Zepeda this Saturday. The bout serves as a co-main event for Turki Alalshikh’s “Ring III” card at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, marking a historic boxing event at this U.S. Open venue.
Despite his undefeated record (23-0, 11 KOs) and accolades, including an Olympic silver medal and titles across multiple weight classes, Stevenson has faced criticism for his perceived lack of excitement in the ring. However, he aims to silence his detractors in this matchup against Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs).
Stevenson expressed his readiness to seize the moment: “There’s a lot of doubters and a lot of people going against me, and I can’t wait to shut them up. They’re waking up a monster. Everybody forgot who I am. They’re about to remember.”
Zepeda, on the other hand, aims to leverage his high-volume punch strategy to pressure Stevenson, saying, “My style will definitely be implemented… My punch volume will put pressure on him, which will be the key to success on Saturday.”
Both fighters are expected to showcase contrasting styles, with Zepeda leading boxing in average punches thrown per round while Stevenson excels in counterpunching and footwork.
As part of a loaded card, other exciting matchups include:
- Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Edgar Berlanga
- Alberto Puello vs. Subriel Matias
- David Morrell vs. Imam Khataev
Fight Card and Odds
- Hamzah Sheeraz -140 vs. Edgar Berlanga +120 (super middleweights)
- Shakur Stevenson (c) -1100 vs. William Zepeda +650 (WBC lightweight title)
- Alberto Puello (c) -115 vs. Subriel Matias -105 (WBC junior welterweight title)
- David Morrell -600 vs. Imam Khataev +380 (light heavyweights)
Viewing Information
- Date: July 11
- Location: Louis Armstrong Stadium, Queens, New York
- Start Time: 6 p.m. ET
- How to Watch: DAZN PPV (Price: $59.99) Buy Now
Prediction
Stevenson’s skills and speed give him a considerable advantage, making him a heavy favorite for this long-awaited encounter. While Zepeda’s pressure style poses a challenge, Stevenson is expected to outmaneuver and dictate the pace, ultimately leading to a TKO victory around the tenth round.
