Shakur Stevenson Held His Ground to Turn Back William Zepeda
Shakur Stevenson retained the WBC lightweight championship against William Zepeda on July 12, 2025. Their twelve-round contest at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens ended in a unanimous decision, with scores of 118–110, 118–110 and 119–109.
Zepeda arrived through the interim championship
Zepeda had won the WBC interim lightweight title against Tevin Farmer in Riyadh in November 2024. He recovered from a knockdown to take a split decision in that first meeting.
Their March 29, 2025, rematch in Cancún produced another Zepeda victory, this time by majority decision. Those results carried him toward the opportunity against Stevenson.
Stevenson answered the pressure at close range
The champion had faced criticism for prioritizing defensive efficiency over exchanges that pleased the crowd. Against Zepeda, he spent significant stretches holding his ground and engaging at closer range.
His accuracy, defensive reactions and ability to adapt helped him control those exchanges. Zepeda continued pressing, but Stevenson’s cleaner work produced a clear advantage on the judges’ cards.
The champion completed the full assignment
The contest reached the final bell without a stoppage. All three judges favored Stevenson, confirming that he retained the WBC championship after facing the interim titleholder.
For Zepeda, the fight represented his first attempt at the full world title following the Farmer rivalry. His pressure tested Stevenson’s willingness to exchange, but the champion combined that resistance with the precision needed to win the twelve-round decision in New York.
Sources
- WBC: July title defense, venue, tactics and scorecards
- Golden Boy: Farmer rivalry and route to the Stevenson challenge
