Shakur Stevenson is perfectly fine with the fight that’s due to take place next, pending current talks.

That’s not to say those plans couldn’t change if the right blockbuster opportunity came along. 

Stevenson, 23-0 (11 KOs), is presently in negotiations with Mexico’s William Zepeda, 33-0 (27 KOs), for an ordered WBC lightweight title consolidation bout. The two sides have until May 6 to reach terms and avoid a purse bid hearing. 

For now, it’s the only bout that makes sense for Stevenson, the three-division and reigning WBC lightweight titleholder. 

The fight that makes the most dollars, however, is a lucrative showdown with WBA titleholder Gervonta "Tank" Davis, 30-0-1 (28 KOs)—though not a realistic option, for the moment.

“Shit, if I could have it next, I’ll take Tank,” Stevenson told DAZN’s Patricia Duong while in Atlantic City to support his cousin Zaquin Moses’ latest win. “But the fight that already presented itself is Zepeda. 

“If Tank say, “Let’s fight,” I’ll drop that shit and me and him could rumble. But if he got other things going on, I’ll rumble with Zepeda.” 

Stevenson—a 2016 Olympic Silver medalist from Newark, New Jersey—is represented in current talks by Matchroom Boxing along with career-long managers James Prince and Josh Dubin. Zepeda is with Golden Boy Promotions. 

There has been unnecessary back and forth through social media—mostly initiated by Golden Boy co-founder and chairman Oscar De La Hoya, who previously tried to suggest that Stevenson walked from the fight. 

Stevenson stood his ground and insisted he’s not going anywhere as it relates to this matchup. 

A fight with Davis would be one of the biggest of the sport, though other plans are in place on that side of the equation as well. 

Baltimore’s Davis will likely run it back with WBA junior lightweight titlist Lamont Roach Jr., with their rematch targeted for June 21. Roach, 25-1-2 (10 KOs), held Davis to a twelve-round draw in their March 1 WBA lightweight title fight in Brooklyn, New York.

Logically, Stevenson is best served to proceed with the ordered bout that will mark his third defense of the title he’s held since November 2023. 

In his most recent start, Stevenson stopped late replacement challenger Josh Padley in the ninth round on the February 22 Dmitry Bivol-Artur Beterbiev rematch undercard in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. 

The win came five weeks ahead of Zepeda’s repeat win over Tevin Farmer. Zepeda earned a twelve-round, majority decision victory and, with it, the interim WBC lightweight title on March 29 in Cancun, Mexico. 

The fight came four months after Zepeda’s disputed split decision victory over Farmer last November in Riyadh. 

Despite both previously fighting on Riyadh Season shows, a Stevenson-Zepeda fight would undoubtedly take place in the U.S. Stevenson is less particular about the location than he is about just getting the fight over the line. 

“I’ll fight in Newark, I’ll fight in Vegas, whatever Zepeda want,” Stevenson told IFL TV. “He a hell of a fighter. He’s the interim champion. I’m the major champion. 

“With me being the real champion, I know he wanna be champion. I’m right here, so come get it.”

Jake Donovan is an award-winning journalist who served as a senior writer for BoxingScene from 2007-2024, and news editor for the final nine years of his first tour. He was also the lead writer for The Ring before his decision to return home. Follow Jake on X and Instagram.