WILLIAM Zepeda could, stylistically, introduce Shakur Stevenson to a career-toughest assignment, with his remarkable engine, alone, representing a truly formidable tool.
The pair will square off at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, New York, this Saturday, with Stevenson, 22-0 (11 KOs), putting his WBC world lightweight title up for grabs.
Zepeda, 33-0 (27 KOs), to his credit, has firmly established himself as the champion’s mandatory challenger, while two underwhelming performances against Tevin Farmer tell a slightly different story.
Yet still, their long-awaited clash should make for an intriguing spectacle, perhaps even one that is akin to a bull vs matador-style encounter, rather than an episode of Tom and Jerry
Either way, here are three keys to victory, for each corner, that could make a sizable difference come fight night.
SHAKUR STEVENSON – KEYS TO VICTORY
Aggression
It may sound counter-productive, at first, that a pure boxer, and one who will typically counterpunch while gliding on the outside, must adjust his style.
That is not to say that Stevenson should march forward with his hands down – hopelessly abandoning his polished defensive shape – but rather, the relentless style of his opponent demands a slightly different approach.
Instead of allowing Zepeda to establish a frenetic tempo, Stevenson must stop him in his tracks – at times, matching fire with fire – in order to control proceedings
As soon as he earns a degree of respect from Zepeda, the American can then focus more on boxing his ears off, all the while keeping the pace and distance in his favour.
Economical output
The jury is still out on whether Stevenson’s hands, which have seemingly been put through the trenches, will be something of an Achilles’ heel throughout his career.
Just last year, the 28-year-old was forced to undergo hand surgery which, because of an injury he sustained in sparring, meant that his fight with Joe Cordina could no longer take place.
It is perhaps best, then, for Stevenson – who, as it happens, is not exactly known for his volume – to maintain a relatively low punch output moving forward.
And by slowing down the pace of their contest, the slick southpaw should be able to do just that against Zepeda.
Eye-catching moments
With a lower output, and indeed greater assertiveness on the front foot, it is especially important for Stevenson to catch the eye of the judges.
More specifically, his left hand, if properly mended, should represent a potent weapon which, above all else, remains primed for whenever Zepeda steps into range.
The shot, whether delivered to the head or body, must crucially carry enough venom so that, while Zepeda may not drop to the canvas, he is at least compelled to take a few backwards steps.
When considering Stevenson’s vision – and his natural athleticism, too – the optics of each accurate punch should, at the very least, capture the judges’ attention.
WILLIAM ZEPEDA – KEYS TO VICTORY
Volume
As mentioned several times, the gas tank of Zepeda is nothing to be scoffed at, particularly when considering the experience he has gained from going the full 12-round distance earlier this year.
It only makes sense, then, for the tenacious Mexican to utilise his greatest attribute, perhaps even with a view to smother the more flashy work of his opponent.
An industrious approach could also convince the judges that, while Shakur Stevenson’s counterpunches may be effective, they are simply too few and far between for him to win the rounds.
Down the stretch, especially, that might just represent the difference between him winning and losing.
Power
Along with his extraordinary stamina, Zepeda has proven to be a destructive puncher in many of his previous performances.
Against Maxi Hughes, for instance, the leading contender at 135lbs only landed a few sickening body shots before flying through the gears, and eventually pummelling his opponent, inside four rounds.
Equally, it is important for Zepeda to impose his power against Stevenson – soon after the opening bell – so that, when the masterful technician begins to put his game plan into motion, he is then all of a sudden forced to reconsider his options.
Fighting spirit
Even in his two razor-thin contests against Farmer, which could have easily swung against him, there was no point at which Zepeda looked to be slowing down.
While resisting the urge to feel sorry for himself, the 29-year-old chose to grab the bull by the horns and grind out two points victories.
And despite not looking the prettiest, Zepeda’s attritional performances should put him in good stead against another fighter who, to an even greater extent than Farmer, likes to create space with his feet.
With a view to limit that movement, Zepeda should look to stay on his opponent’s chest, dragging him deep into the hurt locker with each offensive effort.
