After making his debut under the Matchroom Boxing banner in February, Shakur Stevenson is ready for another test. The World Boxing Council has ordered Shakur Stevenson to defend his title against top-ranked challenger William Zepeda. While the fight is not expected to land on a Riyadh Season-led card as many previously believed, Stevenson’s manager, J. Prince, is confident that it will happen this summer.
“We looking forward to fighting this year. The date hasn’t been solidified yet but we’re hoping sometime this summer, with Zepeda if possible,” Prince told Fight Hub TV. “If everybody honor the word that has already been put out there then there shouldn’t be a problem. I take a man at his word until he show me something different so we just waiting on the honor of the word all the way around.”
If Stevenson is able to successfully defend his title against Zepeda, fans will likely call for a showdown featuring the New Jersey native and Baltimore’s own Gervonta “Tank” Davis. While previous efforts to make the fight have proved unsuccessful, Prince doesn’t believe reaching a deal with Davis and his team will be as difficult as many may think.
“I don’t think it’s really difficult to make, I think the people involved just have to want to make the fight,” Prince told Fight Hub TV.
“[Stevenson and Davis are] the two [who] the world want to see [fight], so let’s satisfy the people,” he added.
In the meantime, the path forward seems set. Recent reports indicate Stevenson will fight Zepeda this summer while Davis appears headed for a rematch with Lamont Roach Jr. in June.
