Shakur Stevenson Puts on a Masterclass, Dominates William Zepeda to Retain WBC Lightweight Title

In a sport where flash often overshadows fundamentals, Shakur Stevenson reminded the boxing world why skill, discipline, and ring IQ still reign supreme. Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) retained his WBC lightweight title with a dominant unanimous decision win over Mexico’s William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs), handing the hard-hitting challenger his first professional loss. The judges scored it 118-110, 118-110, and 119-109 a landslide verdict in favor of the Newark native.

Stevenson didn’t get the knockout he might have wanted, but he left no doubt about who was in control from the opening bell. After facing criticism for previous “safety-first” performances, Stevenson entered the bout under unique pressure. Turki Alalshikh, the powerful Saudi boxing backer, had demanded that Stevenson deliver excitement no more "Tom & Jerry fights," he said.

Stevenson responded not with recklessness, but with brilliance, cleverly referencing the famous cartoon in the post-fight interview: “Jerry always outsmarts Tom.” That’s exactly what he did to Zepeda baiting, dodging, and punishing him for every mistake.

Zepeda, known for his relentless output and knockout power, came out aggressive. But Stevenson refused to be bullied. Instead of circling and avoiding exchanges, he held his ground, trusting his elite defense and surgical counterpunching. “He pushed me to another level,” Stevenson said. “Zepeda is a tough guy. I put a lot of punishment on him tonight.”

Zepeda had one moment a hard right hand in the third that appeared to briefly rock Stevenson, but it was fleeting. From that point on, Stevenson resumed his dominance: jabs to the body, crisp uppercuts, and pinpoint combinations landed with near-clinical precision. While Zepeda kept throwing punches in bunches, Stevenson made most of them miss or deflect off his guard. By the championship rounds, Zepeda’s pace slowed, and Stevenson began to dictate the rhythm, threading hooks to the body and clean shots upstairs.

With the win, Stevenson remains undefeated and continues to build his case as one of the top pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He also likely silenced some critics who questioned whether he could entertain as well as outbox. Whether the next chapter includes a mega-fight against the likes of Gervonta “Tank” Davis or Raymond Muratalia. Shakur Stevenson proved again that he belongs in the spotlight not just as a technician, but as a showman with substance. “I just want to thank y’all for the opportunity,” he said. “This is just the beginning.”