Eddie Hearn moved to clear up the uncertainty surrounding Matchroom’s promotional agreement with Shakur Stevenson by insisting that the WBC lightweight champion remains under contract with them until the conclusion of his fight with William Zepeda.
Stevenson and Mexico’s Zepeda are to contest the WBC title at the Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York on July 12, but after Matchroom oversaw Stevenson’s victory over Britain’s Josh Padley it was reported that they would split and that the 27-year-old’s career would instead be guided by Lou DiBella.
Matchroom, however, will not only support Stevenson for perhaps the biggest fight of his career, they will also thereafter seek to extend the agreement they have with him.
The 28-year-old Zepeda’s association with Golden Boy Promotions and therefore Matchroom’s broadcasters DAZN made a fight between them relatively straightforward to deliver, but Hearn has repeatedly spoken of his desire to match him with Gervonta “Tank” Davis – of Premier Boxing Champions and rival broadcasters Amazon – and it is perhaps that he hopes to offer him next.
“Pretty simply, we had a two-fight deal with Shakur Stevenson,” the promoter told The Brian Campbell Experience. “That never changed; the communication between us never suggested anything different. After the Zepeda fight, the contract’s up; the deal’s up, and I’d like to think we extend.
“I’ve got a great relationship with Shakur, even though he [recently] beat me at table tennis in New York. I want to promote him for the rest of his career. But a lot of the time it really depends on the deal you have for the fighter. Loyalty’s really nice, and respected in the sport, but as I learned with [Saul] ‘Canelo’ Alvarez – and rightfully so; we did seven or eight fights with Canelo – all of a sudden, we didn’t have anything for him anymore; as much as he likes us, he’s off, and that’ll be the same with Shakur.
“Now we’re talking about potentially extending that relationship, but it will all be built on what he can offer. But if he goes elsewhere after Zepeda good luck to him – I’ll still be a massive fan and admirer.”
After the victory over Padley and before the reports linking Stevenson with DiBella, the champion could be seen ringside with Hearn at the Matchroom-promoted contest in Atlantic City in April between Jaron “Boots” Ennis and Eimantas Stanionis.
The WBA champion Davis has, incidentally, since agreed to a rematch with Lamont Roach Jnr in Las Vegas on August 16.