WBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson is reportedly set to fight William Zepeda in New York on Saturday, July 12. The fight, promoted by RING Magazine, will follow a WBC Super Lightweight Championship bout featuring Alberto Puello and Subriel Matias and precede a super middleweight clash featuring Edgar Berlanga and Hamzah Sheeraz.
Stevenson’s next title defense will reportedly kick off the next chapter of his career. As reported by veteran boxing insider Dan Rafael, the lightweight champion promotional ties have shifted from Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing to Lou DiBella.
“In reporting on July 12 card with Shakur-Zepeda, source with knowledge of specifics told me Shakur split from Matchroom. James Prince, his manager, has hired Lou DiBella as his promoter for the event to handle things on their behalf,” Rafael tweeted.
Stevenson was signed to Bob Arum’s Top Rank until his contract reportedly expired in the summer of 2024. On August 22, 2024, Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing issued a released announcing they’ve signed Stevenson to a two-fight deal.
“I am delighted to welcome what I believe is a pound-for-pound great to the Matchroom team,” said Hearn. “Shakur Stevenson is 27 and already a three-division World champion and might be unbeatable in the sport of boxing.”
Under the promotion of Hearn, Stevenson was scheduled to fight Joe Cordina in October of 2024, but a hand injury sidelined the champion until February of 2025. The New Jersey native was original scheduled to fight contender Floyd Schofield in February. However, a pre-fight illness pushed Schofield out of the fight and Josh Padley stepped into his place. Stevenson stopped the previously unbeaten fighter in nine rounds, setting up a title defense in July just a few minutes from his hometown.
