Turki Alalshikh wants Shakur Stevenson to give a strong performance in his fight against William Zepeda on July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. He plans to feature Stevenson in future events, so he’s hoping for a good showing in this match.
ZEPEDA’S PRESSURE TEST
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) might not be seen as valuable anymore if William Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs) defeats him. Shakur hasn’t faced a pressure fighter like Zepeda since he lost to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez at the 2016 Olympics, where he struggled badly. The pressure Robeisy applied back then was not even close to what Zepeda is expected to bring. If Shakur loses badly, like many expect, he might still get fights—possibly on Turki’s cards—if he’s willing to drop down to 130 or even 126 pounds, because he doesn’t seem built for the 135-pound weight class.
He doesn’t have the strength or bravery to go head-to-head with the top fighters in the lightweight division. That’s why Shakur’s promoters chose opponents like Josh Padley and Artem Harutyunyan, who aren’t known for their punching power, for his last two fights. They needed him to win and look good doing it. But he can’t just jab, move around, and hold his opponent all night like he did against Edwin De Los Santos in 2023. If he tries that again, the crowd will boo him out of the stadium. The backlash he would face would be huge—people would treat him like an outsider, someone no longer respected in the sport.
TURKI’S SHAKUR EXPECTATION
“I want Shakur to give a great performance because I’m planning more big fights for him,” said Turki Alalshikh in an interview with Ring Magazine’s X. Turki has high hopes for Shakur Stevenson’s title defense against William Zepeda on July 12. However, expecting a standout performance might be unrealistic, as Shakur usually sticks to his usual style. He’s known for being very defensive and avoiding risky exchanges, often blaming injuries for not being more aggressive.
Turki also spoke about other fighters. He said he wants to see Zepeda face Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz in the future. He mentioned that Edgar Berlanga will get another opportunity, and Hamzah Sheeraz is returning for his third Riyadh Season. Turki believes Sheeraz has real potential and wants to see more from him.
FAQ
Who is Zepeda?
William Zepeda is a rising lightweight boxer known for his aggressive style and undefeated record. He is gaining attention in the boxing world.
Who is Stevenson?
Shakur Stevenson is a highly skilled and undefeated boxer, known for his technical ability and considered one of the top fighters in his division.
What would be the significance of Zepeda beating Stevenson?
A win would be a massive upset, shaking up the lightweight division and boosting Zepeda’s status as a top contender.
How likely is it for Zepeda to win?
While Zepeda is talented, Stevenson is the favorite. If Zepeda wins, it would be considered a major surprise in boxing.
What could happen to Stevenson’s career if he loses?
A loss could damage Stevenson’s reputation and rankings, but he’s young enough to recover. It might delay title opportunities or super fights.
