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Andreas Hale
NEW YORK — Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) promised to carry his floor and ship an thrilling efficiency. The one factor he wasn’t in a position to do towards William Zepeda (33-1, 27 KOs) was rating a knockout, however the WBC light-weight champion put collectively a boxing clinic to retain his title with a unanimous resolution at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens.
Two scorecards favored Stevenson 118-110 and one choose had it 119-109.
“He got here in, pushed me,” Stevenson stated of Zepeda. “He pushed me to a different degree.”
Turki Alashikh relegated Stevenson to the co-main occasion and demanded that there can be no “Tom & Jerry fights” for any occasions he places on shifting ahead. Stevenson listened and reminded those that Jerry routinely outsmarted Tom within the cartoons by setting traps and making the cat pay for his errors.
Stevenson held his floor all through the twelve-round affair, permitting Zepeda to unload a excessive quantity of punches and catching a majority of them on the arms and shoulders. However as an alternative of circling away, Stevenson used a jab to the physique, uppercuts and delightful mixture punching that tormented Zepeda. Zepeda did handle to land a tough proper hand within the third that appeared to rock Stevenson, however outdoors of that, there was little to nothing of be aware that troubled the champion.
“As soon as once more, I needed to keep off the ropes, decide my punches and ensure I come out victorious,” Stevenson stated. “Zepeda is a tricky man. I put loads of punishment on him tonight, and I simply wish to thank y’all for the chance.”
Zepeda was undeterred and relentless together with his punch output, which allowed Stevenson loads of home windows to counter and punch via. By the center to late rounds, Zepeda slowed down simply sufficient for Stevenson to start out main the motion with hooks to the top and physique. Though Zepeda was by no means badly damage, he was severely outgunned by the terribly correct product of Newark, New Jersey.
Stevenson’s efficiency proved that he is undoubtedly essential occasion materials and will be extraordinarily thrilling when deemed vital. He discovered it essential to show some extent tonight and did precisely that with a one-sided drubbing of a person who was thought to provide him a problem.