William Zepeda says he believes he was disrespected by the WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson when he lifted his finger at him during their face-off today at the weigh-in. Zepeda (33-0, 27 KOs) states that he’s going to make Stevenson (23-0, 11 KOs) pay for his insolence by unloading on him on Saturday, July 12th at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York.
De La Hoya’s Fight Plan
Promoter Oscar De La Hoya noted that Shakur, 28, looked a “little soft” around the midsection today. He wants Zepeda to target Stevenson’s body as his main attacking point on Saturday, because that’s one area where he’s proven to be vulnerable during his career.
Targeting Shakur’s Body
- Attack the body: Shakur can’t move his body to avoid shots the way he can with his head. He hasn’t fought anyone near the level of Zepeda in body punching. Stevenson has fought headhunters his entire career.
- Punch with Shakur: De La Hoya says Stevenson will move and throw exclusively potshots. He’ll be vulnerable to Zepeda when he stops to throw his single shot. That’s when Zepeda can hit him, and then close the distance to rip shots to the body to take Stevenson’s legs away. Runners can’t move when they get hit hard to the breadbasket.
Getting near enough to Shakur to land will be the main issue for Zepeda. As we’ve seen with Stevenson’s fights in the past, he refuses to stand still and will literally jump off the canvas to escape when trapped.
When fighting good opposition during his career, Shakur has been in pure running mode and only stopping momentarily to throw a single punch. It’s awful to watch, but it’s been effective against the mostly B-level opposition Stevenson has faced. He’s never fought an A-level or elite-level fighter.
Zepeda-Stevenson Weigh-in Disrespect
“I all respect. I had a finger lifted up to me. That’s disrespect. Tomorrow, we’re going to put the receipts up to you,” said William Zepeda during today’s weigh-in.
Shakur was trying to punk Zepeda by putting his finger in his face, dancing, and then standing in front of him to prevent the media from seeing him on stage. It was typical stuff from Shakur to disrespect his opponents and give the appearance of false confidence.
Shakur Stevenson: Runner Label?
Inwardly, Stevenson is pure jelly, weak, and worried because he knows that if he fights his Jerry-level fight, he’s going to be ridiculed, booed, and it will confirm his label of being a runner. If he stands and fights like he did against his late replacement, Josh Padley, he’ll be destroyed within six rounds by Zepeda. So, there’s no choice but for Stevenson to move all night and deal with the boos.
“I’m prepared; I’m ready. I try to stay stuck in the present. I’m not worried about tomorrow. I’m co-confident because I put the work in. This is my destiny. These people can’t take nothing away from me. Jerry is going to kick Tom’s s**. Just watch,” said Shakur Stevenson at the weigh-in.
“William Zepeda all day, all week, all year. The work ethic is incredible. Zepeda has the ability and the punch output to keep Shakur on his toes. Aim for the body. Shakur is a little soft,” said promoter Oscar De La Hoya.
“Zepeda is an expert at cutting off the ring. Closing the distance is going to be hard. Zepeda throws a 1000 punches, but it’s going to be difficult for him to get to Shakur,” said Sergio Mora.
