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.
Dmitry Bivol currently holds the WBA, WBO and IBF light-heavyweight titles, with a trilogy showdown against Artur Beterbiev rumoured once again, but the three-belt unified titleholder has now been given just 10 days to agree to a fight with an alternate former world champion.
The Russian avenged his maiden career defeat by scoring a majority decision win in his rematch with Beterbiev to claim the undisputed throne in February 2025. Although, just two months later, Bivol relinquished the WBC crown with David Benavidez being the beneficiary.
Since then, Bivol has fought only once, making his ring return in a decision win against IBF mandatory challenger Michael Eifert back in Maybefore rumours of a third fight with Beterbiev re-emerged.
Yet, last month, Bivol was ordered to face former WBA (Super) super-middleweight world champion Callum Smith, who is currently in possession of the WBO Interim light-heavyweight title and positioned as the WBO mandatory challenger.
Bivol then underwent elbow surgery and was granted an extension to the negotiation period with Smith, but last night, WBO President Gustavo Olivierirevealed that an additional extension has been granted, giving the parties until August 20 to reach a deal.
“Re: WBO 175 lbs – Bivol/Smith
“The WBO Championships Committee has granted the parties a final extension, through August 20, 2026, to reach terms for the Mandatory bout, consistent with the WBO’s 1 World Champion per division policy and the objective of eliminating the Interim title.
“Should an agreement not be reached by the deadline, purse bid proceedings will be conducted on August 27, 2026, in San Juan, Puerto Rico.”
As Olivieri states, if an agreement is not reached by Thursday, August 20, then purse bid proceedings will take place on Thursday, August 27.
One option could see Bivol vacate his WBO light-heavyweight world title in favour of another clash with Beterbievwith Smith expected to be elevated and thus become a two-division world champion.
Fight fans are keen for an announcement of Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, but one further detail about the proposed event emerged after a heavyweight fighter was in action on Matchroom’s show in Queensland, Australia today.
The heavyweight division is currently searching for its new superstars, and Australia has an intriguing offering in Teremoana Teremoana, who had won by knockout in all 11 of his professional contests prior to today; nine of those stoppages coming in the opening round and the remaining two coming in round two.
Consequently, the 28-year-old is deemed to be one to watch in the heavyweight division, but in Queensland, he was tasked with his most difficult opponent to date in Michigan-born DeAndre Savage, who had also won inside of the distance in all 11 of his victories but suffered a maiden defeat to Brandon Moore last September.
Trained by former WBC super-welterweight world champion Tony Harrison, 35-year-old Savage looked wary from the get-go and Teremoana wasted no time in getting to work in his first main event, as the imposing 6’6” Aussie heavyweight quickly assumed control of the contest and showed tremendous hand speed for his size.
Still, Savage survived a one-sided opening round without hitting the deck, despite a terrified look in his eye throughout the opening three minutes. The American would not be so lucky in the second, buzzed early in the round and then dropped after Teremoana landed a duo of straight right-hands to the temple.
Savage did not attempt to beat the count, instead crawling to a knee and waiting keenly for referee Phil Austin to finish his 10-count, awarding Teremoana with a 12th consecutive knockout as a professional without fighting ever beyond round two.
In his post-fight interview on the DAZN broadcast, after treating the fans to a haka in the ring, Teremoana shared news that he would be appearing on the Fury-Joshua undercard.
“What I have heard on the grapevine is that I should be on the AJ-Fury undercard.”
Eddie Hearn then confirmed the idea, but recognised that he will need to increase the level of his opposition for a fight on a card of such magnitude.
“That is definitely the plan, but we have got to step up the opposition.”
Despite those words, Eddie Hearn recently threatened to call the Fury-Joshua fight offif a premature announcement for the event to be in America is made any time soon.
Unified light-heavyweight world champion Dmitry Bivol is regarded as the very best at 175lbs, but there is a new player in the division who believes that he can be the first to knock the slick Russian out.
Bivol became the first fighter to take Artur Beterbiev the distance when the pair collided for the undisputed title back in October 2024, but it was Beterbiev who claimed a majority-decision win and made history by becoming the first undisputed light-heavyweight ruler of the four-belt era.
However, just four months later, Bivol became the second, as he avenged his solitary career defeat with a majority-decision triumph of his own before vacating the WBC belt – which subsequently fell into the hands of David Benavidez.
Now, after Bivol returned to action with a points win over Michael Eifertit seems as though a trilogy showdown with Beterbiev is finally on the horizon, but the Russian-Canadian puncher is not the only knockout artist hoping to hand Bivol a first stoppage defeat.
Speaking to TalkSPORT Boxingafter a first-minute knockout of Sean Hemphill, Dutch light-heavyweight Gradus Kraus admitted that he cannot wait to face the likes of Bivol and knock them out.
“I want to make rounds, but you see I am too good for these guys and I know that I am the best in the world, I will be a future world champion.
“I can’t wait to step up in the ring against [guys] like Bivol and then I will show the world that I also knock them out because my power is too much.”
Boxing News understands that Kraus, who now has 11 knockouts from 12 wins, will return to action in October, with former Bivol opponent Craig Richards amongst the names being considered as a potential opponent.
Meanwhile, the unified champion has been ordered to face WBO mandatory challenger Callum Smith, though he may instead vacate the belt to make the third fight with Beterbiev.
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