Shakur Stevenson and William Zepeda have struck a deal at last, setting up a WBC lightweight title consolidation on July 12 atop a Turki Alalshikh‑backed Ring Magazine show in New York City. A precise venue is still under wraps, but both camps confirmed terms before the WBC’s May 6 purse‑bid deadline, ending more than a year of false starts and public jabs.
Stevenson owns the full title he snatched from Edwin De Los Santos in November 2023 and retained twice, most recently with a ninth‑round knockout of late‑sub Josh Padley after original foe Floyd Schofield fell ill during Riyadh fight week. The 27‑year‑old southpaw signed with Matchroom Boxing last summer and had been slated to face Joe Cordina until a hand injury scuttled that October date; the Zepeda bout becomes the first under his renewed partnership with promoter Eddie Hearn.
Zepeda arrives as the WBC interim titleholder thanks to back‑to‑back decisions over Tevin Farmer, the latest a majority nod on March 29 in Cancún. Though dropped early in the first meeting and pushed hard in the second, the Mexican volume‑puncher preserved his perfect record and the mandatory position that finally forces Stevenson’s hand.
The pairing of unbeaten southpaws was first ordered by the WBC on April 7 with a 30‑day negotiation clock. Stevenson briefly balked at the purse on social media, accusing Alalshikh of backtracking, but issued an apology two days later and signed on once revised terms were tabled.
Oscar Collazo, the unified strawweight champion, is pencilled in for the undercard, and sources say the event will stream globally on DAZN as part of Alalshikh’s Ring-branded series.
Learn about William Zepeda here.
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