Shakur Stevenson Shuts Down Conor Benn in Verbal Clash

On July 12 at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, Shakur Stevenson (24-0, 11 KOs) delivered an impressive performance to defeat William Zepeda by unanimous decision (118-109 x2 and 119-109). Following this vital win, Shakur appeared on the Ariel Helwani Show alongside Conor Ben, dismissing his boxing skills.

Shakur Stevenson Dominates William Zepeda on July 12

Stevenson Dismisses Conor Benn’s Skills Following July 12 Win

Shakur Stevenson delivered a high-level performance to defeat Zepeda to retain his WBC lightweight title. Zepeda came out aggressively, but Stevenson stayed composed, countering effectively and picking his shots with precision.

The Mexican fighter enjoyed an eye-catching third round, keeping his output high while landing some smart punches. As the fight progressed, Shakur began to win the exchanges with more regularity. Despite having his moments and making the rounds competitive, Zepeda was outclassed by Shakur, who has made it clear he wants to face the best fighters in boxing.

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Following a brief back and forth on the Ariel Helwani Show, where Benn accused Stevenson of not being a good watch in the ring, the Newark native countered: “I hate watching you fight. I don’t learn s**t. You don’t teach me nothing. There’s nothing I can learn from watching Conor Benn,” said Stevenson.

Shakur Breaks Down Potential Conor Benn Fight

Amid the back and forth between Stevenson and Benn, it was clear both fighters are ready to face each other at 147 lbs: “All I’m saying is, we get in the ring, there’s gonna be a big skill gap,” added the reigning WBC lightweight champion.

It would be an intriguing clash of styles at 147, with Shakur using his elusiveness and pot-shotting effectively, while Benn looks to cut off the ring and unload his power shots. The buildup would be fiery, and the fight itself could catch fire.

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In the post-fight press conference on July 12, Shakur spoke about what he wanted next: “The best vs the best, that should be my next fight. Told y’all I’m a dog, I’m top-level, elite-level fighter, so let’s make boxing great again. Let’s put the best fighters in the ring with each other, let’s see who come out victorious.”