Shakur Stevenson silenced critics Saturday night with a dominant win over the previously undefeated William Zepeda, retaining his WBC lightweight title at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens. This time, there were no complaints about his style—just respect for a complete performance.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) controlled the fight from start to finish, earning a unanimous decision with scores of 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109. Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) stayed aggressive throughout, constantly pressing forward and throwing in volume, but Stevenson’s timing, footwork, and accuracy made the difference.
The Newark native has taken heat in the past for being too defensive or “boring” in the ring, but he came in with a point to prove.
“I wasn’t trying to coast tonight,” Stevenson said after the win. “I wanted to show I could fight when I have to. Yeah, I took a little more punishment, but that’s part of showing I’ve got dog in me.”
In Round 8, William Zepeda landed his biggest moment of the fight—a sharp overhand left that briefly shook up Shakur Stevenson. It was one of the few times Stevenson looked visibly affected, as Zepeda capitalized with a quick follow-up flurry. Stevenson stayed composed, clinched to slow the momentum, and used his footwork to recover by the end of the round. While it didn’t change the outcome, it was a reminder that Zepeda’s pressure and power were real threats throughout the bout.
Zepeda, known for his relentless pressure and power, kept the pace high and tested Stevenson’s endurance and toughness. While Stevenson didn’t get the knockout, he did everything else—defending well, landing clean counters, and showing grit when it counted.
With this win, Stevenson remains undefeated and sharpens his case as the top fighter at 135 pounds, while reminding the boxing world that he’s not just a technician—he can brawl when he needs to.
