Bob Arum Says Stevenson vs Zepeda is Not Happening Next
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum has delivered bad news to boxing fans. WBC lightweight champion Shakur “Fearless” Stevenson (21-0, 10KO) versus William “Camaron” Zepeda (30-0, 26KO) will not happen next. In addition, he explained why Golden Boy Promotions CEO Oscar De La Hoya can’t be taken at his word.
After watching his fighter, Oscar Valdez, score a sensational knockout over Liam Wilson, Arum addressed the media on the situation.
“It was Oscar that said, ‘bring on Shakur, bring on Shakur’. So what we did was we called Eric Gomez, and we said, ‘look, everybody heard Oscar. We talked with Shakur, he’s ready to fight your guy. Let’s make the fight’.”
“(as Gomez) ‘Nah, he’s not ready yet,’ and all that shit . . . I didn’t open my mouth, I didn’t propose it. Shakur didn’t propose it. Oscar opened his mouth, and everybody heard it. He was the guy that threw out the challenge.”
“You can’t take what Oscar says at face value . . . because he gets carried away, and therefore says things that turn out to be stupid.”
Bob Arum
A QUICK LOOK BACK
On March 16, following his victory over Maxi Hughes, Camaron stated he was ready to face Stevenson or Gervonta Davis. In addition, boxing fans thought a fight would get made after De La Hoya and Stevenson’s exchange of words on social media.
Fearless took to social media a few days ago with a message for the Golden Boy executive wondering why things have gone radio silent. In his defense, De La Hoya responded by claiming talks to make the fight take could place later in the year.
WHEN WILL THE FIGHT HAPPEN?
The reality is that Golden Boy wants to explore all options before making the fight. For example, if Emanuel Navarrete defeats Denis Berinchyk for the vacant WBO title, that would be a huge fight between two Mexican warriors.
Will the fight happen this year? Who knows. These two fighters should fight. But in boxing, big fights are a matter of timing, and fans will have to wait.
