Shakur Stevenson put on a dominant display to retain his WBC lightweight title against William Zepeda at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York. The undefeated champion silenced his critics with a masterful performance, winning by unanimous decision.
Stevenson's skills were on full show as he outclassed the previously undefeated Zepeda. The judges' scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the bout, with scores of 119-109 and 118-110 twice in favor of the champion.
Many fans and experts thought Zepeda would give Stevenson his toughest test to date. The champion had faced criticism for some of his recent performances, but he left no doubt about his abilities in this fight.
After the fight, Stevenson, now 24-0, set his sights on a potential super-fight. At the post-fight press conference, he called out WBA lightweight champion Gervonta 'Tank' Davis.
"Who's next? I told you all who I wanted to fight. The best vs the best. That should be my next fight. I told you all I'm a dog and a top level, elite level fighter. Let's make boxing great again. Let's put the best fighters in the ring together and let's see who comes out victorious."
A fight with Davis might not happen immediately, though. 'Tank' has a rematch scheduled with Lamont Roach for August, following their controversial first meeting in March. However, Davis' recent arrest has cast doubt on whether this fight will go ahead as planned.
Roach claims the rematch is still on for next month, but boxing fans will have to wait and see if it materializes. If it doesn't, the path could be clear for the Stevenson-Davis showdown that boxing fans are eager to see.
Stevenson's performance against Zepeda certainly strengthened his case for a shot at Davis. He proved he can handle pressure and expectations, dismantling a tough, undefeated opponent with ease.
The fight showcased Stevenson's supreme boxing skills, and fans will be keen to see if he can replicate this performance against the hard-hitting Davis. It's a matchup that could determine the top dog in the lightweight division.
