WBC world lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson has named mandatory challenger William Zepeda as his next opponent, regardless of a reduced offer sent by Turki Alalshikh.
The 27-year-old claimed via X last week that Alalshikh, the chairman of the General Entertainment Authority in Saudi Arabia, has gone back on his promise.
According to Stevenson, 23-0 (11 KOs), the offer he was originally sent by the boxing power broker is a far cry from the figure he has since been presented with.
But still, while their likely matchup may no longer take place on a Riyadh Season or Ring Magazine card, the three-division titlist remains eager to take on Zepeda, 33-0 (27 KOs).
After engaging in a back-and-forth across social media with Golden Boy boss Oscar De La Hoya, Zepeda’s promoter, Stevenson insisted that, if a deal cannot be reached, he is quite happy for their ordered matchup to go to purse bids.
Zepeda claimed his WBC interim title with a split decision victory over former world champion Tevin Farmer last November, only for an immediate rematch to follow the highly contentious result.
Then, in their second encounter towards the end of March, the Mexican emerged with a majority decision win after struggling to negate the elusiveness of Farmer once again.
Stevenson, meanwhile, comes off a ninth-round stoppage victory over late replacement Josh Padley after Floyd Schofield pulled out of their contest due to an illness.
So now, it seems, the American is considering no option but to defend his green and gold strap against Zepeda, one of the sport’s most prolific volume punchers.
