The Shakur Stevenson next fight news could be underway within the next months. As we await his return, let’s consider three possible opponents and a recap of his previous outing last Saturday.
Who will Shakur Stevenson’s next fight be against?
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) made his third successful defense of the WBC lightweight title in a unanimous decision win over William Zepeda. The native of Mexico gave Stevenson as tough of a challenge than any other previous opponent. Though the defending champion relied on his sharp accuracy to get the better of Zepeda in each exchange.
There are plenty of high-profile fights at 135 pounds, which include Gervonta Davis, Lamont Roach Jr., and Raymond Muratalla.
- Tank: A potential clash with WBA lightweight champion, Gervonta Davis (30-0-1, 28 KOs), has carried steam for some time. Especially given several back and forth exchanges between the two through social media. Stevenson continued his call for a showdown with “Tank,” as he spoke with Ariel Helwani following his victory over Zepeda.
It remains to be seen if the Baltimore native will go through with a reported rematch against Lamont Roach Jr. in August. Following a recent arrest on a battery charge accusation last Friday, there seems to be uncertainty about whether the fight will go as planned. Even after Davis was released shortly after, an official announcement has yet to be made.
- The Reaper: Lamont Roach Jr. (25-1-2, 10 KOs) fought Davis to a controversial draw, when they met for the first time in March. In a losing effort, “The Reaper” appeared to outbox the heavy favorite Davis, and gave him a run for the WBA lightweight title. Roach may be left without an opponent, given much unclarity around a reported rematch against Davis.
With speculation on other suitable fights to make at 135 pounds, Stevenson also expressed interest in a matchup with Roach earlier this week.
- Danger: On the rise at lightweight, Raymond Muratalla (24-0, 17 KOs) defeated Zaur Abdullaev by unanimous decision to claim the 135-pound vacant IBF interim title in May. “Danger” was elevated to full IBF champion in June, following the retirement of Vasiliy Lomachenko.
A meeting with the undefeated Muratalla will give Stevenson a shot to become a unified champion at lightweight.
Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda recap
The WBC lightweight champion took on the mandatory challenger Zepeda, who displayed will and determination as he sought to capture his first world title. Although all three judges scored the fight in favor of Stevenson by wide margins, it was a much more competitive bout than indicated.
What happened: Neither of Stevenson’s previous two opponents in Artem Harutyunyan, and Josh Padley, were recognized as top-10 contenders at lightweight. Zepeda, who is currently ranked number four at 135 pounds on ESPN’s men’s divisional rankings, proved to be different. His game plan was clear, as he cut the ring on Stevenson and pressed on the attack inside. The Newark, New Jersey native kept the fight in the pocket, and engaged with his own counter attack.
The result: Zepeda connected on 272 out of 979 total punches (27%), while Stevenson landed 295 out of 565 punches (52%), according to CompuBox stats. It was a career-high in punches taken by both fighters. The three-division champion’s speed and precise punching was the key difference as they exchanged combinations.
Two of the judges scored the fight 118-110, and the third judge had it 119-109 to award Stevenson the unanimous decision win.
What’s next: After another display of his dominant skillset, the 2016 U.S. silver medallist has taken over the number one spot at lightweight, above Davis. With three defenses under his belt, Stevenson can look to unify at 135 pounds.
What makes Shakur Stevenson so popular?
Shakur Stevenson is one of the bright young stars in the sport. Over his first 23 fights, he faced very few challenges, and the WBC champion has quickly garnered a growing fan base as he rises up the division’s pecking order.
Along with young stars like Ryan Garcia and Gervonta Davis, Stevenson is one of the new faces of the lighter-weight classes.
- Shakur Stevenson Record: 24-0 (11 KOs)
- Shakur Stevenson age: 27 years old
- Shakur Stevenson began his career at bantamweight and represented the US in the 2016 Summer Olympics, winning a silver medal at just 18 years old.
- Even before he won an Olympic medal, Stevenson was an elite prospect as he earned titles at the 2014 AIBA Youth World Championships and 2014 Summer Youth Olympics.
- When he began his career in the professional ranks, he fought mostly at featherweight, winning multiple titles, including unifying all the belts at super featherweight.
- During the first few years of his career, the young star has scored big wins over proven fighters like Joet Gonzalez, Jeremia Nakathila, and Oscar Valdez.
Shakur Stevenson net worth
Money is often one of the greatest measuring sticks for a fighter’s success. As of 2024, Shakur Stevenson’s net worth is believed to be as much as $5 million.
