Comments Thread For: Stand and deliver: Shakur Stevenson outbattles William Zepeda

[LA_2_Vegas]

I'm black, a Shakur fan, and I was there live with a very good seat. And I think Shakur lost the fight. I believe he was out worked and out landed, and he was hit throughout the entire fight in every round. He spent most of his time on the ropes but not effectively. He was throwing a wide sweeping right hand that missed constantly. His shoulder roll wasn't good, it needs a lot of work, and he landed one, maybe two clean double or three punch combinations per round, which looked good but wasn't enough in my opinion. He had nothing to discourage or hurt Zepeda. I think he got credit for standing in close, instead of using excess movement, but he wasn't in my opinion, doing much in there. He faded and it showed in his form as he missed a lot of shots down the stretch. Shakur needs a lot of work on skill, and some man strength. He's not Zab, Floyd, Pernell, or anyone like that, by any stretch of the imagination. I see him as a young champ that still has a lot to learn and needs a lot of work and refinement. He's not some finished product. If he thinks he is, he's in big trouble

I posted in round-by-round thread after Round 1 that it looked like Zepeda was going to have enough speed to stay with SS and really test out the idea people have posed of whether or not SS actually has a good defense (and defense-to-offense) outside of the normal stepback.

Were you one of those people before the fight or did seeing it up close now change your mind?

I thought he obliged the fight, but also looked like Zepeda was going to get there anyway. Somewhat torn on it myself

[joesaiditstrue]

Zepeda landed at a 28% clip on Shakur, as far as I know, nobody else has had that kind of success vs Shakur thus far.

[1Eriugenus]

I’m going to rewatch that. It kinda felt closer than those cards but I’ll come back to you. It seemed like a damn good fight and I wouldn’t mind if they ran it again.

[Malvado]

I'm black, a Shakur fan, and I was there live with a very good seat. And I think Shakur lost the fight. I believe he was out worked and out landed, and he was hit throughout the entire fight in every round. He spent most of his time on the ropes but not effectively. He was throwing a wide sweeping right hand that missed constantly. His shoulder roll wasn't good, it needs a lot of work, and he landed one, maybe two clean double or three punch combinations per round, which looked good but wasn't enough in my opinion. He had nothing to discourage or hurt Zepeda. I think he got credit for standing in close, instead of using excess movement, but he wasn't in my opinion, doing much in there. He faded and it showed in his form as he missed a lot of shots down the stretch. Shakur needs a lot of work on skill, and some man strength. He's not Zab, Floyd, Pernell, or anyone like that, by any stretch of the imagination. I see him as a young champ that still has a lot to learn and needs a lot of work and refinement. He's not some finished product. If he thinks he is, he's in big trouble

I wasn't there live so I have a different perspective with the screen, but I thought Stevenson won a clear but competitive bout.

I think Stevenson used a great strategy, as darting away in a smaller ring would leave him more vulnerable to giving Zepeda more openings to work with as he knows how to cut the ring. Zepeda would use affective pressure, trying to close in and Shakur would taken a toll in the later rounds, instead Stevenson took the risk by making miss in the pocket and making him pay with sheer skill and athletic ability. Shakur focused on catch and shoot, to counter and find openings to land the more crisp punches.

It also very impressive he also made Zepeda miss so frequently who is a very high volume fighter, that any momentum he build up would dissipate, as Stevenson would quickly recover rounds (3 by a well timed jab and 7-8 with a body shot that make him grimace). Not everyone can do what he did yesterday, more when the opponent is not discouraged to still press for twelve rounds.

Still though, the scorecards don't reflect well the actual fight, it's impressive that Stevenson made Zepeda miss, aswell as landing the same amount of punches and landing the noteworthy shots more more often and as much. But he still got caught frequently. Showed his grit, durability and recovery ability so far. Which is pretty good thing in itself. This fight is the one he took most punishment so far and Shakur admitted her rather not go through this again.

Just an example clip by gpb focusing on Zepeda's moments as a example.

Stevenson landed more affective shots though, looking better of the two after the fight.

[Lefty0616]

I wasn't there live so I have a different perspective with the screen, but I thought Stevenson won a clear but competitive bout.

I think Stevenson used a great strategy, as darting away in a smaller ring would leave him more vulnerable to giving Zepeda more openings to work with as he knows how to cut the ring. Zepeda would use affective pressure, trying to close in and Shakur would taken a toll in the later rounds, instead Stevenson took the risk by making miss in the pocket and making him pay with sheer skill and athletic ability. Shakur focused on catch and shoot, to counter and find openings to land the more crisp punches.

It also very impressive he also made Zepeda miss so frequently who is a very high volume fighter, that any momentum he build up would dissipate, as Stevenson would quickly recover rounds (3 by a well timed jab and 7-8 with a body shot that make him grimace). Not everyone can do what he did yesterday, more when the opponent is not discouraged to still press for twelve rounds.

Still though, the scorecards don't reflect well the actual fight, it's impressive that Stevenson made Zepeda miss, aswell as landing the same amount of punches and landing the noteworthy shots more more often and as much. But he still got caught frequently. Showed his grit, durability and recovery ability so far. Which is pretty good thing in itself. This fight is the one he took most punishment so far and Shakur admitted her rather not go through this again.

Just an example clip by gpb focusing on Zepeda's moments as a example.

Stevenson landed more affective shots though, looking better of the two after the fight.

Hope you get a chance to watch the replay at home. Zepeda threw more punches, but missed quite a bit. Shakur was more accurate and landed the effective punches - he had Zepeda's head rocking back and forth.

[Malvado]

Hope you get a chance to watch the replay at home. Zepeda threw more punches, but missed quite a bit. Shakur was more accurate and landed the effective punches - he had Zepeda's head rocking back and forth.

Will rewatch the fight. Also did see Shakur snapping back the head of William with sharp combinations and counters that are more noteworthy than most shots landed by William. Mentioned that Shakur used catch and shoot in the pocket, making William pay and then use openings to unleash fierce combinations after Shakur's opponent was in position.

Shakur made William miss 72.19% of his punches stats wise, Stevenson was quite active himself, outlanding Zepeda by 23 punches at 295 punches (out of 565 punches) whose opponent's output allowed him to have success in also landing a significant amount of punches of 273 (out of 973 punches).

Thought Zepeda had at best earned 4-5 rounds (at 8-4 or 7-5 disadvantage) in the early and middle rounds. Also that the crowd was quite swayed by Stevenson's more affective shots thinking they would end the fight. Where as William's shoots are more for grinding down his opponent. So that might explain why the judges were swayed to make the scorecards that wide.

Another thing to note, I think Shakur's body shots are a bit underrated, he doesn't throw many punch combinations down there, but when he does throw one strong long jab below. the body shot is potent enough to make his opponent stop pressing and even staggers them back. He also has a pretty good uppercut. When he does either of those things, he made Zepeda stood in place where Stevenson unleashed multiple punch combinations. Two things I didn't know he did in his inside game. Zepeda's defense is also quite more good too, when pressuring he made sure he used waist movement and after he avoids a punch, he then uses the angle he is at to land punches. Zepeda had 52.21% stats when it came to avoiding his opponent's shots in this fight, not quite as great or impressive as Stevenson, but pretty good.

[Oregonian]

Shakur put on a clinic. But haters will still find a way to call him boring. He's an intelligent boxer/fighter. He knows what style will secure the win. You saw in his performance against Zepeda, why fellow boxers will call him boring, a runner, etc..

He's a problem. Therefore they will smear his name as an excuse to not fight him.

Respect to Zepeda for taking the fight, btw.

———-
If you had read the comments here after Shakur fought De Los Santos, you would think the world had come to an end.
You are right about haters. They are so toxic they can’t help themselves. It’s usually a reflection of their lives and how they were raised.
Shakur is a master boxer and will smoke everyone at 135. I just hope he gets a chance to fight Tank. Tank is never going to fight Shakur.

[BoxerFreddy]

When you watch the slow-mos you realise how good Shakur's defense is. so many shots are caught by the shoulders and the gloves. He was so in control while on the ropes, showing he can do it all. Very impressive fight. Need to unify the titles now! some weak champs in the division he should take on as Tank will never fight him... 140 is not ready yet

[Lance98]

Shakur looked impressive, and shakur was never a runner if you know boxing. He uses lateral movement. His past opponents landed nothing clean even in the pocket, and were demoralized trying to get a shot in. They also bad at cutting off the ring. Zepeda never stopped trying and wanted to win. That's the difference.

[Lefty0616]

Will rewatch the fight. Also did see Shakur snapping back the head of William with sharp combinations and counters that are more noteworthy than most shots landed by William. Mentioned that Shakur used catch and shoot in the pocket, making William pay and then use openings to unleash fierce combinations after Shakur's opponent was in position.

Shakur made William miss 72.19% of his punches stats wise, Stevenson was quite active himself, outlanding Zepeda by 23 punches at 295 punches (out of 565 punches) whose opponent's output allowed him to have success in also landing a significant amount of punches of 273 (out of 973 punches).

Thought Zepeda had at best earned 4-5 rounds (at 8-4 or 7-5 disadvantage) in the early and middle rounds. Also that the crowd was quite swayed by Stevenson's more affective shots thinking they would end the fight. Where as William's shoots are more for grinding down his opponent. So that might explain why the judges were swayed to make the scorecards that wide.

Another thing to note, I think Shakur's body shots are a bit underrated, he doesn't throw many punch combinations down there, but when he does throw one strong long jab below. the body shot is potent enough to make his opponent stop pressing and even staggers them back. He also has a pretty good uppercut. When he does either of those things, he made Zepeda stood in place where Stevenson unleashed multiple punch combinations. Two things I didn't know he did in his inside game. Zepeda's defense is also quite more good too, when pressuring he made sure he used waist movement and after he avoids a punch, he then uses the angle he is at to land punches. Zepeda had 52.21% stats when it came to avoiding his opponent's shots in this fight, not quite as great or impressive as Stevenson, but pretty good.

As I was watching this fight, I scored the first 5 of 6 rounds for Stevenson. At worst, I had it 4 to 2. And then in the second half, it seemed as though Stevenson hit a wall around the 8th round mark. He asked his corner what round they were in.

But then Stevenson dug down and got a second wind.

I was okay with the judges scorecards. There was one who I believe that had it a shutout. That I did not see.

I felt the fight would go the way it did. Zepeda is a volume puncher. I expected him to throw more than usual and maybe even land more than usual. This has been his key to success...and knockout victories.

I expected Stevenson to mix it up more and land with more power. He is more skillful though. This would be his keys to victory.

Even though I had Stevenson winning rounds, I was still nervous for him while watching. Zepeda stick to his game plan. This is how Zepeda wins. Stevenson dug down enough, however, to not allow himself to quit. He started to touch Zepeda even more too.

These are the reasons why Stevenson won. He had "dog" in this performance - from beginning to end. This stifled/negated Zepeda's relentless efforts.

Stevenson reminds me of Mayweather/Ray Leonard/ Sweet Pea Whitaker - lite!

To any real boxing fan that can't see his generational abilities, too bad.