Stevenson beats Zepeda to retain lightweight title
Shakur Stevenson defeated William Zepeda via unanimous decision to retain the WBC lightweight championship Saturday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York.
The judges scored the fight 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109 in Stevenson's favor.
Stevenson, often criticized for being a timid, defensive-minded boxer, dazzled in his latest title defense against Zepeda, putting on an entertaining, back-and-forth fight. He outlanded the challenger 295-272 in total punches and 199-153 in power shots. Zepeda had a 119-96 edge in jabs.
"It wasn't the performance I was looking for, because I came in here trying to prove a point, and I was trying to fight," Stevenson said in his postfight interview. "I took more punishment than usual. But at the end of the day, I told y'all, whatever it takes to get the job done - I got a dog in me. I'm not no puppy, I'm not no poodle. I'm a tough guy."
Stevenson was especially dominant in the second half of the fight, outstriking Zepeda in four of the last six rounds. Stevenson said he made some adjustments midway through the bout to ensure Zepeda wasn't able to push him up against the ropes.
"That was one of the toughest fighters at 135 pounds. ... He came in and pushed me to another level," Stevenson said of Zepeda.
Stevenson, a 28-year-old from Newark, lifted his professional record to 24-0 with 11 knockouts. He's held the WBC lightweight title since November 2023 and defended it three times.
Zepeda, who entered as the WBC interim lightweight champion, suffered his first career loss. The 29-year-old Mexican fell to 33-1 with 27 knockouts.