At the age of 28, on the eve of its biggest battle, sometimes Shakur Stevenson It is no longer qualified as a babyface, appearance or any other remedy. It’s not to say that he is whiteBut for a person who is 23–0-never hurts severely, is not very little challenge-that remains a notable source within the boxing business. Therefore, eight years in his supporter career, Stevenson has realized: “What it really boils is the fact that casual boxing is ruled. And they are not just casual fans. You got a casual promoter. You got casual fighters. You got a casual opinion.”
evidence? Consider Stewenson’s location on the card on this Saturday at Louis Armstrong Stadium. The WBC Lightweight Champion (this is the third weight class in which it has now been held the title) will be matched against the “interim” belt-holder of the organization, William Zepeda (33–0, 27 KO). Zepeda has actually struggled for Stevenson to fight for a long time for fans of hard, undefeated fighters. But their competition is only co-interested. Rather, the main event goes to Edgar Berlanga – which has primary qualification 12 survived from uneven round In a unanimous defeat Kennelo Alverez – And Hamjah Sheeraz, who is coming up to 168 pounds after a disappointing draw with Middleweight Titallist Carlos Adams. While there is no belt at stake, Berlanga-Sharaz is seen as better garbage talks and more likely to provide knockouts. Nevertheless, no one – casual or otherwise – can argue that they are better, more skillful fighters than Zepeda and Stevenson.
While Stevenson has barely lost Round Since Pro Turning in 2017, estimate against him – that he is not Recreational (Read: violent and charismatic) enough – only developed. Most of it stems Their unanimous decision win Edwin de Los Santos for the vacant WBC belt about two years ago. Okay, they cannot be gems like Kennalo-Bellanga. But it was terriblely uneven. Nevertheless, Stevenson has a different tech.
“When I go back and look at that battle,” he says to me, “I see greatness.”
Are you waiting for the punchline? There is no one. I saw him at the training camp for the fight when he used only his main right hand. He said that he was only working on his jab. His team denied any reason for concern. And for my chagarine, I bought it – till night till night. Stevenson represented the easier heavily de los santos, and did it with just one hand. It turned out that he had a tear in his left middle knuckle, not to mention tears in his left shoulder. No excuse, just reference.
“I see a fighter who went there 50 percent against a very good fighter,” says Stevenson. “And the work is still complete.”
While the night did not win any fan of him, he gives a complete reasoning argument. Simply, it ignores the responsibility of de los santos in the equation. If D Los Santos is so big and bad-and I am not saying that he is not-how can he barely touch each other’s fighter? That too, was an experienced – 14 knockouts in 17 quarrels – with a rich amateur lineage. Why couldn’t he cut the ring? Why not He sell out?
There is a possibility for the same reason Gervonta “tank” davis -A gift against a lesser opponent comes from the decision and talks completely about retirement compared to the structure, which still remains in reducing a semi-contact dreams that one day they will meet in the ring. They will not. By and big, fighters have no objection to taking a beating. But they looked silly. Shakur Stevenson can make you silly.
“But you know what is crazy?” He asked, referring to De Los Santos Battle. “Fans said that I ranI went many times ” – for nothing, it is called boxing – but not a whole fight. Edwin de Los Santos Crack me or hit me with shots that he was looking for. This has not happened yet. ,
Because de los could not catch his end of saintos bargaining – or not. I have criticized Stevenson to throw a punch at a time, to be very careful and to focus on defense at the cost of an attack. But write it as one athlete There is a casual falsehood – as the belief is that the size of the ring is an important variable in these matches.
“I don’t care about how big or small the ring is,” Zepeda tells me through his trainer-translator, Jai “Panda” Nazar. “A good pressure fighter will find a way to cut the ring, and a good boxer will find a way to move and move away. It’s no secret that I throw a lot of punches and attack the body. I can’t change it. … But I am the one who has to make a difference. Shakur’s IQ is just incredible, but I am ready to do an incredible work.
The rare is “B” side that refers to himself in the first person. But he is on a record to accept the risk and responsibility that D Los Santos (among others) did not. In Zepeda’s brain, all this is about Zepeda. He understands that he should implement the entire smart pressure, that he cannot allow himself to disappoint or discourage himself, claiming that he has learned in his frequent victory over the South Pav Tavin farmer.
More than that, however, Zepeda imagines hero in his own epic. “It will be like a rocky film,” he insists. “It will be a very difficult, difficult fight. But I can’t leave it even to judges. Not against Shakur in New York.”
Never pay attention to that Stevenson Newarark, New Jersey – or they have their own grand ambitions. Nevertheless, for Zepeda’s Zepada, I can’t help, but wonder: Where is his opponent weak?
“He is under pressure,” says Zepeda. “There is going to be a moment in the fight where he has to stand there and fight with me. We want to take advantage of it.”
explain.
“All the people who say that ‘we want to see Shakur fighting. We do not want to see him.” He goes to the Internet and replies to everyone, “Zepaeda says.” This is the only weakness I am seeing. “
Casual, that means.
