Golden Boy Promotions founder and CEO Oscar De La Hoya is finally preparing a long-overdue title opportunity for William Zepeda against WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson but is demanding that Stevenson signs with Golden Boy in order for the fight to happen. This is contrary to statements De La Hoya made in the past where he claimed to be open to working with everybody and denounced other promotions for destroying their relationships by not allowing their fighters to venture outside their promotion.
American WBC champion Shakur Stevenson (22-0, 10 KO’s) is currently a free agent following his July 6th win over German lightweight (135 lbs) contender Artem Harutyunyan (12-2, 7 KO’s) last Saturday. Stevenson also successfully defended his WBC lightweight title for the first time and can now align himself with whatever promotional company he wishes in order to better secure the fights he craves.
A fight with #1 135 lbs Mexican contender William Zepeda Segura (31-0, 27 KO’s) could be on the cards after Oscar De La Hoya revealed he had met with representatives of Stevenson to arrange a potential bout between the two lightweights.
“Had a great meeting with Shakur [Stevenson’s] representatives. William Zepeda will only fight him if Shakur is signed to Golden Boy [Promotions].”
Oscar De La Hoya
De La Hoya’s assertion that Stevenson would have to sign with Golden Boy Promotions appears to be a stipulation he inserted himself, given Zepeda has no such power or privilege to make such demands. His stance is a sharp 180-degree turn from past comments he made regarding Premier Boxing Champions (PBC), who have built a reputation off of arranging in-house fights between PBC fighters rather than allowing them to venture out to be featured on other promotional shows.
“Have you taken a look at what Al Haymon [founder and purported head of PBC] has done in the sport? He ruined the relationship with NBC, he ruined the relationship with FOX, he spent Showtime’s money… so every network he goes to, he just ruins it, because it has to be his way, or no way. So I don’t know how DAZN will even entertain anything like that. I mean, I’m open to it and willing to work with anybody, but I just want to make sure people understand what has been going on with networks and why it’s been happening. Somebody just told me because everything that Haymon touches turns to bronze.“
Oscar De La Hoya
PBC is well-known for forcing fighters who are free agents or with other promotions to sign with their company in order [whether for one fight or multiple fights] to receive an opportunity against one of its fighters. Canelo Alvarez (61-2-2, 39 KO’s) is perhaps the most well-known example of this, having left Matchroom last year after his contract expired in order to join PBC on a multi-fight contract. Alvarez would end up fighting twice under the PBC banner.
However, unlike Alvarez, has enough leverage in the sport to demand exorbitant fees for joining any promotional outfit he wants, Shakur Stevenson will be looking carefully at his options and will likely be seeking a unification fight if possible.
Stevenson had hinted this himself following his match against Harutyunyan where he stated to wish to face the best fighters available, which more so alludes towards fighting world champions rather than contenders. With three other world champions currently present within the 135-pounds division, competing in a unification fight would seamlessly align with Stevenson’s stated vision.
De La Hoya’s demands are also indicative of the lack of opportunities that William Zepeda appears to face as his own promoter is making unrealistic demands of the champions in the division during a period where it’s already unlikely Zepeda will receive a title opportunity against any of the other champions beside Stevenson.
The Golden Boy founder’s comments could also come across as hypocritical given his own assertions of fighters being scared to chase legacy fights.
“Legacy is out the window. Have some balls and fight!”
Oscar De La Hoya
In every aspect, Stevenson fighting either WBA champion Gervonta Davis (30-0, 28 KO’s), WBO champion Denys Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KO’s) or IBF champion Vasyl Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KO’s) would certainly fit the bill for a “legacy” fight, whereas a fight with Zepeda would not be as prestigious due to the Mexican fighter’s status as a contender rather than actual world champion.
While the possibility for Stevenson to join Golden Boy still remains, given his representatives and the promotion have formally been in talks, De La Hoya must remain vigilant about not scaring away potential opponents for his own fighters―especially if those opponents hold world titles.
