Shakur Stevenson: From ‘the best’ to ‘the bag’? Fighter’s zepeda -extract sparks accusations of greed

Promoter Oscar de la Hoya revealed today that Shakur has Stevenson ‘Pulled out of the William Zepeda fight.“Shakur put the reason for the extract on X and said Turki promised him a financial amount for the Zepeda fight, but is now ‘to go back’.

Pull out

Shakur did not mention how much money Turki planned to offer him to the Zepeda (33-0, 27 food) fight, but he seems to have changed his mind. Stevenson prefers not to continue with the fight shows that he has focused more on it ‘the bag’ then increases on his legacy or its popularity. What happened to Shakur who wants to show that he is the best? Now he focuses on money and sounds a lot like Edgar Berlanga.

It will be interesting to know how many Turki Stevenson has offered Zepeda in the past. If this is the same amount he received on February 22 against part -time boxer Josh Padley, it would be enough to go through the match. According to reports, Shakur was paid well to against Padley on the Dazn ppv Card in Riyadh.

Ppv risk

If Stevenson expected to get $ 10 million for a title defense against Zepeda, he missed himself. He is not a PPV attraction, and he will probably never be. Zepeda also couldn’t help bringing in the sale, because in his last two fights back-to-back performances he moved against Tevin Farmer.

Mexican Slugger Zepeda probably lost fans of the two fights. For Turki to a Shakur vs. Zepeda -struggle to try to sell as a main Dazn ppv would be a financial disaster. Even with a loaded bottom map, the event was bombarded if Shakur is in the headlist.

Stevenson has failed to raise its popularity since moving up to the lightweight division in 2023. This is the biggest problem. He fought an obscure Japanese fighter in his first match at 135, and then he had that horrible performance against Edwin de Los Santos in which he was thrown by fans from the T-Mobile Arena for raning 12 rounds from him. Stevenson followed it up with an equally dull battle against Artem Harutyunyan in his final battle with the top rank.

Instead of fighting against the dangerous puncher, Jadier Herrera, on the 22nd card on February 22, Shakur chose the light electrician Josh Padley. It is very clear that he is kept away from the hard opposition to ensure that he does not look bad again.

If you take that into account, why would Turki Shakur want to pay what he hoped to fight for a fight against Zepeda? If there is anything, Turki must wash his hands of Shakur and treat him as he is invisible. He must focus on exciting fighters for his cards. Stevenson does not meet those criteria.

The promise breaks

Is that what they told you ?? Turki promised me a number and now he goes back to the number that he promised me and sent his towel boys to let the information run for me, rather to tell me upright what he’s trying to do. Ion bends to no one Mr De la Hoya, let’s negotiate! https://t.co/s33OY0CEFY

– Shakur Stevenson (@shakurstevenson) April 5, 2025