AFTER producing a career-best performance in New York last night, Shakur Stevenson is now a free agent.
The WBC lightweight champion retained his title with a dominant unanimous decision victory over William Zepeda at Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Heading into the fight, many questioned whether Stevenson’s defensive skills could withstand the relentless pressure of the Mexican challenger. Not only did the American rise to the occasion, he exceeded expectations – dazzling with blistering combinations and sharp hooks that Zepeda simply couldn’t evade.
The win marked the final bout of Stevenson’s two-fight deal with promoter Eddie Hearn. Back in February, the 28-year-old broke down late replacement Josh Padley, and now, following another impressive triumph, Stevenson is free to speak with any interested parties eager to work with the three-weight world champion.
“We’d love to keep him on board, but we’ve got to deliver for him, and we’ve got to come up with something for him,” Hearn told Boxing News after the fight.
With the WBC belt still in his possession, Stevenson has several potential options. He could unify with other champions in the division, but Hearn knows there’s one fight the public truly craves.
“For me, the division is wide open. You’ve got [Raymond] Muratalla against Andy Cruz for the IBF [title]. You’ve got Sam Noakes against Abdullah Mason for the WBO, [Floyd] ‘Kid’ Schofield with a great win – but obviously, the fight with [Gervonta] ‘Tank’ [Davis] is the one. We’ll have to see what happens with him.”
Davis, the WBA lightweight champion, found himself in more legal trouble last week after being arrested for allegedly assaulting an ex-girlfriend in June. He had been expected to rematch Lamont Roach in August after the pair fought to a draw in March.
