Promoter Eddie Hearn says that he wants WBC to be obligatory William Zepeda to be another opponent of Shakur Stevenson if he wins in his rematch with Tevin Farmer on March 29 at Cancun.
Hearn states that Zepeda (32-0, 29 KO) was part of his original plan of three fights for Shakur (23-0, 11 KO) after he signed him, and still wants it to happen. The original road map, which Hearn had for Stevenson, when he dropped him into a contract with Mathroom, was aimed at taking these fights in this order:
Floyd Schofield
William Zepeda
Gervonta Davis
The match Schofield broke up after he pulled out the disease last week, thanks to which Hearn is necessary to apply for an exchange. He chose a pretender to Fringe, Josh Padley, who turned out to be a mistake on his part because he made Stevenson look like an average warrior in a lost effort.
Not Zepeda, what now?
Hearn wants to continue his original plan to exploit Zepeda as a stepping stone to get a fight with the tank, but it is not clear if it will happen. The head of Golden Boy, Oscar de la Hoya, died down, wanting to fight between Zeda and Shakur. It’s understandable why.
Zepeda can earn a lot more money by fighting Tank Davis than to face Stevenson, who is not an attraction of PPV, and the fight would cause a very diminutive interest in fans. What’s more, Shakur was running around the ring for 12 rounds, as he did against Edwin de Los Santos, playing on the playground for children. This is not engaging for fighters such as Zepeda, Golden Boy or fans.
“I don’t think you will see him in the ring until the back of the summer and we still want what we were promised in the road map, i.e. [William] Zepeda – said Eddie Hearn to Chris Mannix YouTube channel About who he wants the next one for Shakur Stevenson.
Padley fiasco
Shakura’s left -wet -fired left hand was seriously swollen during Padley’s fight, forcing him to exploit his right hand by most of his power. Although Stevenson could still exploit the left when throwing the body, he could not exploit it to throw himself on the head.
“I said I wanted Floyd Schofield, Zepeda, and then Tank. If we go straight to the tank, this is not a problem either. We would like to fight Zepeda. I think Shakur is getting better. People are queuing to criticize Shakur. He had three notice for Josh Padley, “Hearn said, justifying Stevenson’s impoverished performance against Elektryk Padley.
Needed plan B.
Hearn has to start thinking about using someone else for the next opponent of Shakur, because it is painfully obvious that Golden Boy is not interested in allowing him to fight Zepeda. These are more realistic options for Shakur:
– Ernesto Mercado – Andy Cruz – Abdullah Mason – Raymond Muratalla – Edwin de los Santos
“It wasn’t really an ideal situation, and Padley can fight. It is very hard when you were preparing for a bad blood fight with Floyd Schofield, and then suddenly it is not. This guy [Padley] He comes in and you’ve never really seen him. You watch a lot of material. I thought it was a good performance [from Shakur].
“He never lie down [in his career]. He thinks he is the best warrior in the world and wants to prove it. It was always a plan, “said Hearn, when it was asked what promotions Golden Boy say about the fight between Zepeda and Shakur Stevenson.
“Zepeda is a good warrior, and if he goes through the revenge of the farmer [on March 29th]Why not fight? You wouldn’t only fight if you didn’t think you could win and I understand it. There is a lot of money at the rate and he is [Zepeda] Mandatory for the world title. I hope this fight will be made – said Hearn.
Former IBF welterweight world champion, Kell Brookhas previously called for a domestic dust-up with Conor Benn. Now, ‘Special K’ has predicted how Benn will fare in his first world title challenge, against WBC titleholder, Ryan Garcia.
Benn and Brook were linked to a bout in May 2023, when the pair were pulled apart in a ringside confrontation in Dublinbut the fight never materialised, partly due to the fact that Benn had relinquished his BBBofC license following his infamous failed drugs test.
Instead, Benn twice fought stateside as a super-welterweight and then twice boxed fierce rival Chris Eubank J as a middleweight, before announcing plans to return to the welterweight division and challenge for world honours.
On his way back down to 147lbs, Benn entered the ring against Regis Prograis earlier this year in a 150lb catchweight contest and underwhelmed, but still he has landed his title shot, with a fight against Garcia now formally confirmed.
Speaking on the Fight Your Corner PodcastKell Brook looked ahead to the fight and admitted that whilst he gives Benn ‘a good chance’, he feels as though the power of Garcia means that a win for the Californian is more likely.
“I give him [Benn] a good chance, but I do lean towards Garcia winning the fight, I do. In his last fight he boxed well but in the fight before, he didn’t box so good. I just think that he will rise to the occasion, they are champions and I think that we are going to see the best of both of ‘em.
“I just think that Garcia has got that get-out-of-jail card. When I boxed Shawn Porter, I went to Vegas to finish some sparring off and I was some sparring with some good kids. I put it onto this kid and had a really good spar, I was punching hard.
“We had something to eat after and I said, who is the biggest puncher you’ve been to, don’t forget I’m a lot older than Garcia, and he said, ‘I have never been hit as hard as by Ryan Garcia,’. That punch power that he has got, that snap [is impressive].”
Garcia-Benn takes place on Saturday, September 12, at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas, with undefeated cruiserweight Jai Opetaia expected to appear on the undercard.
Tyson Fury has raised serious concerns over his proposed showdown with Anthony Joshua.
After over a decade of build-up, Fury and Joshua finally look set to meet later this year, provided that both men can first come through their respective warm-up bouts this weekend.
Fury takes on Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, before Joshua then meets Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia 24 hours laterseemingly paving the way for the all-British showdown at the end of 2026.
‘The Gypsy King’ still doesn’t seem convinced that it will happen though, as he shared his doubts whilst speaking to IFL TV.
“Until that fight happens and we’re walking to the ring, I’m not convinced it does. 100% [I’m doubtful].
I can never see that stiff sitting on a table with me ever. What the f**k is he going to say? I can never see him at a press conference with me, it would be a bombardment. I can never see him taking that.
“He wouldn’t even get in the ring [after the Makhmudov fight]. He s**t himself and sat on a stool outside and didn’t even want to get up and build the fight and make the fight happen when Turki said to us both ‘come on boys let’s do it get in the ring and make it happen.’
“He didn’t want to do it, so how is he going to come face to face with me at a press conference? I think he’s a bottle job, a flapper, a chinless wonder as well.”
Despite Fury’s fears, all signs still point towards the fight taking place later this year, though there still remains a debate over where it will be held.
Dmitry Bivol looked as if he was ready to move on from a trilogy fight with Artur Beterbiev, but it now seems as though the unified light-heavyweight world champion is ready to run it back with his rival, thus opening the door for two Brits to compete for one of his belts.
Bivol claimed the undisputed light-heavyweight crown in February 2025 when he avenged his defeat to Beterbiev with a majority-decision win, but he soon relinquished the WBC marble – which was then handed to David Benavidez.
After 15 months of inactivity, Bivol returned to action in May to fulfil his IBF mandatory and shake off some ring rust against Germany’s Michael Eifertbut it was then believed that Bivol would proceed with his WBO mandatory and next face Liverpool’s Callum Smith, much to the frustration of Beterbiev.
Yet, in an interview with Ring MagazineBivol’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that the 35-year-old is instead keen for a third fight with the Russian-Canadian. Therefore, he expects Bivol to vacate the WBO world title in order to make it happen, with Smith likely to rematch Joshua Buatsi for the vacant belt.
“I think it’s unlikely he will defend against Smith. I think Smith will fight Joshua Buatsi for the vacant title. But Dmitry is ready to make the Beterbiev fight.”
Smith decisioned Buatsi on the Beterbiev-Bivol II undercard in a Fight of the Year contender and Smith is yet to fight since, whilst Buatsi was seen as fortunate by some to get the decision when he returned and fought Zach Parker in November.
Smith and Buatsi could be set to top the bill of the second ‘Matchroom vs Queensberry’ event, which will likely take place in November.
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