Shakur Stevenson Silences Critics With Gritty Victory Over William Zepeda

Shakur Stevenson returned to the ring Saturday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City, successfully defending his WBC lightweight title against Mexico’s William Zepeda. The bout, which was part of the Riyadh Season boxing series, marked a stylistic shift for Stevenson, who has long faced criticism for his elusive, defensive approach.

In the days leading up to the fight, Stevenson was again fending off accusations that his performances were “boring” and overly cautious. But this time, the Newark native seemed intent on proving a point—not only to his detractors, but to a global audience watching a co-main event that lived up to its billing.

Among those teasing Stevenson before the bout was His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi boxing patron and chairman of the General Entertainment Authority. On July 5, he wrote on X: “We have a surprise for @ShakurStevenson on Saturday, a ring that shrinks as the fight goes on. Shakur says he is ready to deliver a beatdown of William Zepeda, and I know the Mexican is prepared for the challenge of the biggest fight of his life.”

Though the tweet was tongue-in-cheek—a shrinking ring is neither practical nor sanctioned—it carried an implicit challenge: fight, and fight to win.

Alalshikh’s comments followed earlier remarks criticizing overly defensive bouts, referred to as “Tom and Jerry fights.” During the Canelo-Crawford press conference, he declared, “We will not have [Tom & Jerry fights] anymore... We want to support fighters who leave it all in the ring and fight with heart and pride!”

That stance fueled a broader debate in the boxing world: Should fighters known for movement and evasiveness adjust their styles to be more fan-friendly? Stevenson’s unanimous decision win over Edwin De Los Santos in 2023—where De Los Santos landed just 40 punches, the fewest in a 12-round fight in nearly four decades—was widely cited as a case study in excessive caution.

On Saturday, however, Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) answered those criticisms with action. Rather than circle the ring or clinch excessively, he met Zepeda toe-to-toe, often backing onto the ropes and inviting exchanges. The judges scored the fight 119-109, 118-110, and 118-110 in Stevenson’s favor. Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) suffered the first loss of his professional career.

The scorecards did not tell the whole story. Zepeda had his moments early, pressing the action and landing 153 power punches against Stevenson, more than any previous opponent. From the opening bell, the two men traded shots, with Zepeda applying pressure and Stevenson countering with precision. In the second round, both landed clean combinations, setting the tone for a competitive contest.

As the rounds wore on, Stevenson began to take control. His counterpunching was sharp, his footwork tight, and his shoulder-roll defense reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather—particularly in the way he slipped and returned fire from the ropes, much like Mayweather did against Marcos Maidana in 2014.

Though Zepeda remained dangerous throughout, he faded in the later rounds. Stevenson capitalized, landing cleaner and more frequent shots and finishing the fight with a flourish that emphasized his superior timing and ring IQ.

“I remember everything you said,” Stevenson told Zepeda during the fight’s buildup. “Oh, Shakur won’t exchange with me. Shakur don’t have the balls like Tevin Farmer. Remember these things, bro... So when we get in that motherfucking mix right there, and I’m beating your ass, don’t be surprised.”

It’s safe to say few were.

In a performance that redefined his image and reaffirmed his place atop the lightweight division, Shakur Stevenson not only defended his title—he defended his name.