Mayweather started his professional career in 1996 after winning an Olympic bronze medal. He went on to become one of the greatest fighters of all time, winning world titles in five weight classes. Mayweather's notable victories include wins over Miguel Cotto, Canelo Alvarez, Manny Pacquiao, and De La Hoya himself.
De La Hoya and Mayweather faced off in May 2007 for the WBC light-middleweight title. Mayweather won the fight via split decision.
In a recent interview with Mill City Boxing, De La Hoya drew parallels between Stevenson and Mayweather:
"Shakur Stevenson knows how to box. He's got beautiful footwork. He stands up straight. He's got that shoulder roll. He's got that beautiful jab. He pop shots with that right hand. He reminds me a lot of Floyd Mayweather."
De La Hoya didn't stop at the comparison. He also pointed out a potential weakness in Mayweather's style that Stevenson's upcoming opponent might exploit:
"The only fighter that gave Mayweather trouble was Jose Luis Castillo. Zepeda reminds me a lot of Castillo, but he throws more punches."
Stevenson will defend his WBC lightweight title against William Zepeda this Saturday night at Louis Armstrong Stadium in New York City. The undefeated champion looks to solidify his status as the best lightweight in the division.
The fight will test if Stevenson can live up to the Mayweather comparison. Can he handle an aggressive opponent like Zepeda? Will his defensive skills and precise counter-punching be enough? Boxing fans will get their answers soon.