Great video as per usual @Rumsfeld . This is the fight that I'm looking forward to the most this month. Two young guys in their prime, undefeated, both southpaws, and it's a very intriguing match up between two very opposing styles. If Zepeda can force the fight to Shakur and make him fight at his pace then I think this has the makings of a very exciting fight. Zepeda would need to outpunch Shakur for all 12 rounds to ensure a win. Saying that though Shakur could most likely spoil his way to victory and outbox Zepeda. Shakur is a better all round fighter than Farmer, who managed to give Zepeda two tough fights. If Shakur actually manages to beat Zepeda clearly with no controversy, even with Turki supposedly trying to stack the deck against him by making the ring smaller for him to force him to fight Zepeda's fight then he gets full credit and he'll no doubt be considered as a Top P4P fighter no question. This fight will all come down to Zepeda's volume against Shakur's sharper punches. I favor Shakur to win but I'm not counting out Zepeda's chances to outhustle him to a victory similar to that of Ball vs Ford. May the best man win this Saturday.
Come on, Rummy. Showing video clips of Stevenson vs that British kid was unnecessary; makes him look like Sonny Liston! A rare event nowadays...two boxers in their prime fighting each other. And a real clash of styles. This is Stevenson's moment of truth. Either he's all that some people think he is or he's just OK.
Farmer had little difficulty landing on Zepeda, I expect Shakur to tag him with sharp counters. While Shakur is not a KO puncher I think he hits hard enough to earn respect. I would not be surprised if he tamed Zepeda and out boxed him. He could also hurt his hand though My one concern is Shakur has not been in a fire fight and I don't know how he handles real pressure and getting hit hard. Floyd had to pass the test vs Castillo. Does Shakur pass his version of a similar test. I lean Shakur but wouldn't be shocked to be wrong
@Rumsfeld a quality video once again. I think one of the first things you said is the key. Stevenson does have a tremendous ability to control the range of a fight. It is that skill which makes many on the forum, myself included, detest watching his fights. He depends so much on controlling the distance that he doesn't get hit much and doesn't throw many punches because he keeps his opponents at arm's length and is unwilling to step into the pocket. While Zepeda is an extraordinarily high volume puncher he doesn't have particularly great footwork. I'm not sure he is going to be able to get close enough to the safety first Stevenson to do much damage. What makes the fight interesting to me is that while we know with certainty that Zepeda can keep up high volume punching for 12 rounds we don't know if Stevenson can constantly move and stay away for every second of the full 36 minutes. If he can't that's when the fight will get good and we'll see how well he fights back. If Stevenson can stay away then it will be an easy points decision for Shakur.
Good video as usual Rummy, but not shockingly, I disagree. Every opponent Shakur has faced to date has been made to order for him, as in, none of them had the remotest clue how to cut off the ring against a southpaw. So no matter how spiffy their unbeaten or near unbeaten records have looked, they've all been carefully vetted and handpicked to make sure Shakur looked like a million bucks while never truly being tested. The only genuine stylistic threat he's faced is De Los Santos, due to his southpaw stance and power, and we all saw how that turned out. Shakur ran like a cowardly ***** and refused to engage. Why? Because he tasted the power of Edwin, didn't like what he felt, and to hell with the fans! But with Zepeda, he won't have that luxury, because Zepeda is both a southpaw and heavy handed but unlike De Los Santos, does know how to cut the ring off, because he has underrated at times excellent footwork. While his volume is more than enough to overwhelm the 4 potshots per round that will be coming back at him. Of course people will say, but he looked terrible against a southpaw in Farmer! Yes, and? Shakur isn't Farmer now is he? Regardless, Zepeda is usually a southpaw killer. He destroyed Maxi Hughes and Mercito Gesta, both southpaws. He dominated JoJo Diaz, a southpaw. While Cabrera who's a switch hitter and arguably beat Isaac Cruz as a southpaw, was steamrolled by Zepeda fighting out of that stance. The only reason why Farmer performed as well as he did, and that's questionable, since most people on here including myself only gave him around 5 rounds over the course of 22. Is because Farmer is tough as old shoe leather and was able to key in on Zepeda's rhythm, and roll with many of his flurries, taking the sting off of them. Still he was getting lit up and hurt in almost every round, especially early on. He also tried pushing Zepeda back and going toe to toe with him at times, at times almost equaling him in volume. Well grit and balls, those are qualities that thus far, Shakur doesn't seem to possess. So if Zepeda does get in range and starts digging consistently to the body, will Shakur gut it out and go toe to toe, or will he look for the exit ramp? Most likely the latter. So if Zepeda can stay in his grill, like I think he will, he's not only going to grind Shakur down to a nub, but stop him late. Shakur isn't about that hell on earth life that Zepeda is going to bring him. He'll try to run, but he won't be able to escape the suffocating pressure and the deluge in volume that Zepeda will hit him with. Ironically, the only way Shakur can win this match fairly, is by KO. Which granted, is a possibility, because he's such a sharp counter puncher and Zepeda is so easy to hit. But even then, will Shakur be willing to plant his feet long enough to sit down on haymaker counters like Farmer was doing? Because that puts him in the line of fire as well. That remains to be seen. In all likelihood, no... he'll prefer to stick and move, something that Zepeda will prevent him from having the luxury of doing.
Zepeda can’t see the straight lefts from a southpaw. Shakur is going to put zepedas neck to sleep once he sees straight lefts are money. I’m interested in seeing if zepeda loses heart when he realizes he can’t get out of the way of Shakurs punches, or if he goes for broke.
This one is a really interesting one, and I think you hit the nail on the head Rummy - can Shakur elevate his game and deal with the fire that Zepeda will bring. I'm really not sure how it will play out at all, but really looking forward to it!
Really hoping we get a highly competitive, hard fought fight where both guys are forced to dig deep but I'm getting the feeling this might end up being similar to Shakur vs Valdez. Something tells me that Shakur's sharp counters might make Zepeda hesitant to bore in. Don't be surprised if Shakur ends up shining this Saturday.
As I've mentioned previously, if Stevenson elects to fight cautiously and avoid exchanging, there's very little Zepeda (or really anyone else presently campaigning at LW) can do to land clean punches consistently. He's that good defensively. Moreover, I'm not sure Zepeda possesses the kind of epower required to end the fight with one shot against an elite talent. Ultimately the fight might hinge on whether the judge's prefer Zepeda's volume and aggression, however ineffective in a tangible sense, over Stevenson's superior craft and ringsmanship but markedly lower activity. It's not out of the realm of possibility that Zepdeda could get the nod simply by "making the fight" in an otherwise uneventful affair. Nevertheless I like Stevenson to use his feet and counter sharply and often enough to earn a decsion(116-112 X 2, 115-113).
Another on point video, thanks Rummy! I agree with your prediction, Stevenson wins a clear, hard fought decision. I love this contrast of styles, it's one of the best and most fascinating types!
