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De La Hoya Targets A Zepeda-Shakur Fight

Originally posted on BoxingNews.com | Last updated Mar 25, 2025 9:59 AM ET

Oscar De La Hoya wants to make a William Zepeda and a Shakur Stevenson fight happen.

Zepeda is Shakur’s WBC mandatory. He was on course to face him for the full lightweight title. However, things took a turn when Zepeda pulled out of a prospective fight due to a hand injury. Shakur eventually moved on as he defeated Josh Padley by a ninth-round stoppage in his last fight to retain his WBC Lightweight Belt. Zepeda is a knockout artist with an undefeated 31-0 record, which includes 27 wins by knockout.

He overcame Tevin Farmer in his last fight by a controversial split decision. That set the narrative for a rematch, which takes place this weekend. De La Hoya has said that Zepeda will target that fight if he overcomes Farmer. Shakur has previously stated that Zepeda is ducking him after repeated links with the fight. De La Hoya was also on record, saying that Shakur would only get that fight if he signed with Golden Boy Promotions.

This was after Shakur was in the midst of leaving Top Rank following the expiry of his contract. Shakur eventually signed a two-fight deal with Matchroom Boxing as he enters the last fight of his contract. Shakur is targeting a fight with Gervonta Davis in a mega unification since Tank holds the WBA belt. That is the biggest fight to be made at 135 pounds. With the rise of the Saudis, it will also secure them their biggest paydays. If that fight cannot happen, Zepeda is another big name who could secure that bout. De La Hoya has now said that this will be the target.

De La Hoya Reacts

“Shakur is one hard man to beat, but not impossible. His style is very difficult. Obviously, this [Josh] Padley guy he fought gave him a little bit of trouble here and there. Maybe Shakur got hit a little more than he expected to get hit because Padley came in gun’s blazing. Then Shakur had some problems with his hand. I saw him shake his right hand. Shakur is an amazing talent, but the plans are to fight Tevin Farmer in Cancun and then go after everybody.

“These are the type of fights that Zepeda wants, the Shakur Stevenson—the very best. Today’s boxing is all about business, and I don’t like it and I hate it. A lot of fighters are out-pricing themselves, and the big fights aren’t taking place.

“I really feel that Shakur wants to be great, and he wants to fight the very best. I think the same thing about William Zepeda. That’s going to be a fight down the road this year that we’re going to see, and we’re going to make and it’s going to be a great fight. William is willing to face anybody. He’s in that moment in his career where he’s willing to face anybody,” De La Hoya said

This article first appeared on BoxingNews.com and was syndicated with permission.

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