WBC Orders Shakur To Face Zepeda; De La Hoya Responds By Ducking
The WBC has ordered Shakur Stevenson to box William Zepeda next.
Shakur is the lightweight champion after winning the vacant belt against Edwin De Los Santos. He successfully defended the title against Artem Harutyunyan in his final fight under Top Rank. However, those performances were not easy on the eye as Shakur won an uneventful unanimous decision. Fans jeered from the crowd, while others left the Artem fight before the final round. The Artem fight was Shakur’s last bout under Top Rank as he explores free agency.
Oscar De La Hoya has expressed an interest in signing Shakur. He had a Zoom discussion with the fighter, saying he would love to sign him if the business made sense. Oscar has offered Shakur the Zepeda fight only if Shakur signs with Golden Boy Promotions. The WBC has ordered the mandatory, leaving De La Hoya in a tough spot. If Zepeda does not take the fight, it will play into the narrative that the Mexican is ducking Shakur.
WBC Order
De La Hoya responded to the order by saying that no one would tell his fighters who to fight. The Golden Boy promoter appears keen on Zepeda facing the WBO lightweight champion Denys Berinchyk next. Zepeda is also ranked number one in the WBO, which requires the organization to order it. Meanwhile, Berinchyk is with Top Rank, who seem keen on making Keyshawn Davis challenge for that belt. Davis is ranked third in the WBO. Meanwhile, Shakur called out a clear case of ducking.
Hearn Reacts
That makes a deal with Golden Boy very unlikely. Shakur’s alternative is to sign with Matchroom Boxing. Hearn’s big fight, however, appears to be at 140. Liam Paro holds the IBF Junior Welterweight Title. Meanwhile, Devin Haney works closely with Matchroom even if he is not signed to them. Hearn was very critical of De La Hoya’s comments, especially since Oscar has previously called out promoters for not working together. De La Hoya may be protecting one of his biggest assets now that Ryan Garcia is banned. But that goes against the spirit of the best fighting the best.
“For me, I don’t really care for tying a fighter down for five fights or three years. If they like working with you, they like working with you. If they don’t, they don’t. Someone like Golden Boy and those kinds of guys. They will only allow him [Shakur] to fight William Zepeda if he signs a long-term deal with them.
“He [Oscar De La Hoya] also said that he would only make the fight if he was with Golden Boy, which is a disgrace to boxing. This is from a guy who says promoters should work together and that the best should fight the best. Now, you can only get Zepeda if you’re with Golden Boy, which is bizarre. We’re [Matchroom Boxing] with the same platform [DAZN],” Hearn stated
Comments
Find all the latest boxing news and MMA breaking updates on boxingnews.com.
