Shakur Stevenson kept his WBC Lightweight World Title this past weekend in New York. He beat William Zepeda and showed off a different fighting style.
Stevenson had gotten some heat for his less exciting main event showings. His promoters weren't happy either, saying his fights looked like "Tom and Jerry." So, this time, he changed things up.
Instead of moving around a lot like he usually does, Stevenson stayed on the ropes for big parts of the fight. He slipped and blocked Zepeda's shots and threw back with precise counter combinations.
After the fight, Stevenson explained why he fought this way:
"I had to show y'all that I'm a dog too. Y'all keep saying that I'm a runner, I'm pillow-fisted. So I kind of stood there in the pocket at times and let y'all know that I can get busy too."
Zepeda, speaking to KGTV after the fight, said Stevenson's power was pretty good:
"His power just felt… It was good. It was solid to keep [me] at a distance. If he didn't have any hand problems, he would be a problem a little bit more. But just good, above average power. A good sting."
Stevenson has hurt both his hands before. He might need to change how he fights to make his career last longer. Right now, his record stands at 24 wins with 11 knockouts and no losses.
Next up, Stevenson wants to unify the titles. He's got his eye on controversial WBA Champion Gervonta Davis for a big fight.
