WBC orders Shakur Stevenson to make mandatory vs. William Zepeda

With Top Rank contract over, free agent titleholder talking to promoters

A note to Fight Freaks Unite readers: I created Fight Freaks Unite in January 2021 and eight months later it also became available for paid subscriptions for additional content — and as a way to help keep this newsletter going and for readers to support independent journalism. If you haven’t upgraded to a paid subscription please consider it. If you have already, I truly appreciate it! Also, consider a gift subscription for the Fight Freak in your life.

The WBC on Monday ordered lightweight titlist Shakur Stevenson to make a mandatory defense against William Zepeda, who is ranked No. 1 by all four sanctioning bodies and could pursue a title fight with any of the 135-pound titleholders.

A fight with Stevenson, however, probably would be worth the most money.

The WBC gave them until Aug. 20 to make a deal or there would be a purse bid with a 70-30 split in Stevenson’s favor, according to WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman.

Stevenson won the vacant title by decision over Edwin De Los Santos in November in a heavily criticized performance. WBC rules state that the winner of a vacant title is required to make two mandatory defenses in a row.

However, with a lot of movement going on in the division in recent months, Sulaiman told Fight Freaks Unite on Monday that the organization allowed Stevenson to make an optional defense against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6 before ordering the mandatory fight.

---

I am in my 25th year of full-time boxing coverage. Take advantage of that experience by upgrading to a paid subscription for full access to all posts and comments — and also support independent journalism.

---

Stevenson defeated Harutyunyan by lopsided decision in a Newark, New Jersey, hometown fight that also was criticized by many for its lack of action. The bout was the last on Stevenson’s long-term contract with Top Rank.

Stevenson is now a free agent after turning down a five-fight extension with Top Rank worth a minimum of $15 million, although Top Rank chairman Bob Arum has said he is open to re-signing Stevenson if they can make a deal that makes sense for both sides.

Stevenson has been talking to other promoters, including Oscar De La Hoya of Golden Boy, which promotes Zepeda and is interested in making the bout.

Stevenson has also talked to Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn. Stevenson met with Hearn in person on Saturday at the Jaron Ennis-David Avanesyan fight in Philadelphia and Hearn has also said he is interested in trying to make a fight with Zepeda. Golden Boy and Matchroom Boxing both have deals with DAZN.

It remains to be seen what kind of offers Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), 27, who has won titles in three divisions, will receive and where he will sign. But if he wants to keep the WBC title it appears as though fellow southpaw Zepeda will be his next opponent.

Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs), 28, of Mexico, also fought July 6 in the main event of his own card in Ontario, California, where he crushed Giovanni Cabrera, knocking him out with a left to the body in the third round.

---

A note to subscribers

I sincerely appreciate your readership. If you’re reading, it means you love boxing just like I do. If you’ve been reading you also know the quality and quantity of what I produce. It’s one-stop shopping. Read the newsletters and there is no need to search multiple websites or click a multitude of links to get the latest news, opinion and detailed fight schedule. Everything you need is in one spot and delivered directly to your inbox (or via phone alert if you download for free the superb Substack app). You don’t have to hunt for the news; it comes to you.

I believe that is worth something, so while I will continue providing stories, notes and the schedule for free, I encourage you to upgrade to a paid subscription for the most content. A paid subscription is your way of keeping this reader-supported newsletter going and supporting independent journalism. I am beholden to no network, promoter, manager, sanctioning body or fighter. If you have read my work at all during the past 24 years I’ve covered professional boxing you know that I keep it real and that will not change.

To upgrade your subscription please go here:

Thank you so much for your support of Fight Freaks Unite!

---

Photo: Mikey Williams/Top Rank

Follow me on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/danrafael1/

Follow me on Twitter: https://twitter.com/DanRafael1

Follow me on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DanRafaelBoxing