Why Now Is the Right Time for Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda?

Why now is the right time Shakur Stevenson vs William Zepeda after the two continued their signature action in the ring on Saturday night. Both performances made it clear that they are a perfect match for each other.

On Monday’s episode of ProBox TV’s “Deep Waters,” analyst Chris Algieri said that the current situations of each fighter have them looking for a matchup, watching each other closely. Three-division and WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (22-0) just defeated challenger Artem Harutyunyan in New Jersey to complete his contract with promoter Top Rank, which signed him to compete in the 2016 Olympics.

With Top Rank involved with Premier Boxing Champions to unify IBF champion Vasiliy Lomachenko and WBA champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis later this year, Stevenson, 27, has no chance of a unification. Mexico’s William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs), who is ranked number one by all four world boxing bodies, has also been out of luck in his bid to capture WBO lightweight world champion Denys Berinchyk’s belt.

While Zepeda’s promoter, Oscar De La Hoya, has said that he would like to target Berinchyk as Zepeda’s first opponent, Top Rank officials told BoxingScene that the possibility is “doubtful” and said they have other plans for Berinchyk, including a chance to appear on the Oleksandr Usyk-Tyson Fury II card on December 21 in Saudi Arabia.

Top Rank chairman Bob Arum is targeting undefeated 2020 Olympic silver medalist Keyshawn Davis to face Berinchyk.
So when Zepeda, after knocking out Giovanni Cabrera in the third round, said in the ring in Ontario, Calif., Saturday night that he would travel to war-torn Ukraine to fight Berinchyk, Algieri replied, “He has no other choice.

“So that he can win one of the fights [gelar] this, he had to accept very low pay and fight [dengan para juara ini] in their living rooms – every game possible,” Algieri said.

“There is no reason for other promoters to give him a chance. [Zepeda]. He’s so good. He’s so tough. Why give him the title? De La Hoya said he wants Berinchyk. So do all the other lightweight contenders.”

That’s why a match against Stevenson makes sense.

While Stevenson has sent fans out of his last two fights early due to his lack of activity, a fight with the highly aggressive Zepeda would give Stevenson a chance to show how his sensational skills can tame a deadly puncher.