WHATEVER way one chooses to slice or dice it, Shakur Stevenson will eventually walk away from boxing as a winner.
Sure, he may be labelled as ‘boring,’ or indeed a ‘Jerry’ fighter, but, when it is all said and done, such accusations are likely to matter about as much as an old pair of socks.
The fact is, while he may not choose to go toe-to-toe in a phone booth-style brawl, or even dip his toe in the trenches, Stevenson, 23-0 (11 KOs), is nonetheless set to end his career with a sizable bank balance and, more importantly, all of his faculties intact.
And that, above all else, must surely represent the ultimate ambition for any fighter, no matter the size of their appetite for an all-action war.
From a different angle, one could even argue that Stevenson does, in fact, provide the sport with ample value, particularly when considering that no fighter has come remotely close to derailing his momentum.
It is not his fault, after all, that the supremely talented technician just so happens to have found a way to win nearly every fight with relative ease.
Yet of course, the media, and indeed event organisers, continue to pile on the pressure, almost begging the 28-year-old to adopt a more fan-friendly style.
Such juvenile attempts to glorify violence, however, always seem to fall on deaf ears, with Stevenson questioning, quite rightly, why he would take further damage – and put himself at a disadvantage – for the purpose of entertainment.
Is he not already earning a set fee, excluding the incentive of a knockout or performance bonus?
From that perspective, too, would it not be best to celebrate his success, especially given the less desirable outcomes that so often emerge from a career in boxing?
In any case, Stevenson may, indeed, be compelled to adapt his style – not because of any outside noise, but instead due to the nature of his assignment – when he enters the ring this Saturday.
The WBC world lightweight champion will take on mandatory challenger William Zepeda, seemingly co-headlining a Ring Magazine card at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York.
Unlike the majority of Stevenson’s previous opponents, Zepeda, 33-0 (27 KOs), brings with him a remarkable engine and a dogged will to win, as evidenced by his last two outings against Tevin Farmer.
Despite getting his head boxed off for large spells of those 22 rounds, the 29-year-old proved robust enough to storm through the pain barrier and grind out two paper-thin victories.
His relentlessness, alone, should therefore represent a point of concern for Stevenson, who knows, or has at least admitted in several interviews, that he must put a dent in his rival.
While not being a feather-fisted operator, the American is not exactly known for his lights-out power, either.
Against Zepeda, though, there must, at times, be a willingness to trade in the pocket, not by rushing into range with his chin in the air but instead negating his opponent’s aggression with a more measured approach on the inside.
As a result, Stevenson’s sharper and more refined attacks should earn a degree of respect from the Mexican, forcing him to second-guess every barrage that comes his way.
The champion’s early success at close quarters is then likely to afford him the opportunity to put on a clinic, or, as some may choose to label it, a 12-round snoozefest, with his defensive prowess representing a decisive factor.
Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda Fight Prediction
Stevenson will match his opponent’s volume and even trade with him at mid to short range before easing his foot off the gas down the stretch.
On several occasions, he may even come close to stopping Zepeda, but is ultimately more likely to claim a comprehensive points victory.
