Eddie Hearn Confirms Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda Talks Ongoing
Matchroom boxing promoter Eddie Hearn says there are talks underway for a fight between Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda.
Stevenson has been linked to a fight with Gervonta Davis but that is unlikely to happen, and now, according to Hearn, there are talks to fight Zepeda.
“His Excellency is a huge fight fan and he understands great fighters and he knows how good Shakur Stevenson is,” Hearn told BoxingScene Tuesday at the Santa Monica Pier grand arrivals for Alalshikh’s stacked Riyadh Season-sponsored card coming Saturday at BMO Stadium in Los Angeles.
Shakur Stevenson is a free agent after fighting out his deal, and Turki Alalshikh wants to host a Stevenson fight as he knows how good of a boxer he is. The plan is for Stevenson to box William Zepeda if that does happen.
“There would be interest in Riyadh Season to look at a Shakur Stevenson against Zepeda fight. In my conversations with (Stevenson’s co-managers) James Prince and Josh Dubin, they’re happy for me to explore that,” Hearn said, clarifying that Stevenson is not signed with Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing less than one month after the fighter’s contract with Top Rank expired.
“I’m not bothered about getting pen to paper. I think we can all work together well as a team,” Hearn said. “I think we’re the right place for him. I think I’m the right promoter for him. I think he’s got a brilliant team with James Prince and Josh Dubin, who I’ve known for a long time. Collectively, we can be a powerhouse for Shakur. If a deal can get done with Zepeda, fantastic. He’s the right fight. When you’re around His Excellency – and this week, he’s here – he likes to do a lot of business. We’re hoping that’s the type of business he wants to do.”
Shakur Stevenson is 22-0 as a pro and coming off a decision win over Artem Harutyunyan.