Eddie Hearn Confirms Shakur Stevenson – William Zepeda Talks

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed discussions for a potential fight between unbeaten three-division champion Shakur Stevenson (22-0-0) and top-ranked also unbeaten lightweight contender William Zepeda (31-0-0). The fight is being negotiated alongside Saudi Arabia’s powerbroker, Turki Alalshikh.“His Excellency is a huge fight fan and understands great fighters like Shakur Stevenson,” Hearn said at the Santa Monica Pier during the grand arrivals for Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season-sponsored card set for Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.

Stevenson could defend his WBC lightweight belt against Zepeda on the Oct. 12 card in Riyadh, headlined by the light-heavyweight bout between unbeaten Russians Artur Beterbiev and Dmitrii Bivol.        

“There’s interest in a Stevenson vs. Zepeda fight during Riyadh Season. Conversations with Stevenson’s co-managers James Prince and Josh Dubin indicate they’re open to exploring this,” Hearn stated, noting Stevenson isn’t signed with Matchroom Boxing after his contract with Top Rank expired. “I’m not concerned about formal contracts; we can work well together as a team,” Hearn added.           

Teddy Atlas expressed concerns about Zepeda’s ability to defeat the complex and fast Stevenson. Atlas highlighted how speedy technicians often dominate aggressive fighters and suggested Zepeda needs to employ more subtle tactics to avoid Stevenson’s counterpunches. First, the pair need to formally agree to financial terms for the fight.