Defense versus offense, relentless mobility versus suffocating pressure, boxing IQ versus fearless aggression: the clash between Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda Segura promises to be a matchup of contrasting styles, which only adds to its intrigue. The two will square off this Saturday at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York, with Stevenson’s WBC lightweight world title on the line.
Shakur Stevenson: A Fighter Who Divides Fans
Opinions about Shakur Stevenson tend to be all or nothing. The boxing world seems sharply split between admirers captivated by his talent and critics annoyed by his conservative style.
The former are enchanted by the elegance of his movements and his prodigious defensive skills, which allow him to slip most punches with pinpoint precision. The latter accuse him of being overly cautious and delivering just the bare minimum offensively to win rounds.
As a result, after every fight, Shakur finds himself battling critics on social media—fans who claim they were bored watching him in action. So far, though, his approach has worked: of the 23 opponents he has faced as a professional, only the Dominican Edwin De Los Santos came close to matching him on the scorecards—and that was in a bout affected by a pre-existing injury. All others have been thoroughly outclassed.
William Zepeda: Unstoppable Tank or Overhyped Fighter?
Mexican contender William Zepeda has earned a reputation as an overwhelming offensive force, steamrolling opponents with a relentless work rate that leaves them breathless and drained. However, his two bouts against veteran Tevin Farmer raised doubts about just how formidable “Camaron” really is.
In both fights, Zepeda failed to impose his will as expected—especially against a light-hitting fighter who originally came from the super featherweight division. In fact, Farmer not only held his own, he even knocked Zepeda down in their first encounter and proved to be a tough, competitive opponent. After both bouts, some observers questioned whether the official decisions were truly fair.
Will the experience gained from those two fights be enough to prepare Zepeda for the biggest challenge of his life?
What Will Happen? Boxe Punch’s Prediction!
Stevenson made his approach clear during an on-camera exchange with U.S. prospect Abdullah Mason, who had been dropped twice in the first round of his fight with Yohan Vasquez. Stevenson stated that anyone can be dangerous early on, so it’s crucial to approach the opening rounds cautiously before engaging more freely.
If we consider Stevenson’s mindset, along with the likelihood that Zepeda will try to ramp up his output gradually to better execute his attritional style, we can expect the fight to start at a relatively slow pace.
However, such a scenario can’t last too long. Given Zepeda’s clear disadvantages in speed, jab usage, and distance control, he has no hope of winning a tactical fight at a slow rhythm. Once he gets going, he will surely try to apply pressure and highlight his best attributes.
Many who believe the Mexican has a real shot at pulling off the upset argue that Stevenson lacks the power to deter Zepeda’s constant forward march—and that he will eventually be overwhelmed and smothered.
Personally, I believe Stevenson’s power is significantly underrated. Sure, his KO percentage isn’t particularly high, but that’s mainly because Shakur only loads up when he’s reasonably certain of landing clean, preferring to stay in control and avoid unnecessary risks.
If his punches were truly as harmless as some claim, his past opponents would’ve charged in recklessly—and that simply hasn’t happened. Take the case of German-Armenian fighter Artem Harutyunyan: against the heavy-handed Frank Martin, he pressed forward with no fear for twelve full rounds. Yet against Stevenson, he looked hesitant, uncertain, even afraid.
I believe that once Zepeda starts raising the tempo in an effort to seize control, he will pay a heavy price—particularly given the defensive lapses he has consistently shown and which no one has fully exploited thus far.
Looking at Zepeda’s record, although he has defeated several decent opponents, he has never faced someone known for devastating power and great precision. That may have inflated his image as a fearsome pressure fighter while masking his shortcomings.
If Zepeda hit the canvas and struggled to absorb shots against Tevin Farmer—who wasn’t powerful even at super featherweight—it’s highly likely he’ll suffer even more against a true ring radar like Stevenson.
I don’t expect the Mexican challenger to fold and meekly accept a wide points loss. I believe he’ll bring his usual bravery to the ring—but I also believe that will lead him straight to disaster. Stevenson will begin landing cleanly with increasing frequency, and in my view, will end the fight before the final bell, sealing the most dominant and high-profile victory of his career.