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Shakur Stevenson clashes with reporter before previewing Zepeda fight
WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson kicked off the build-up for his title defence against William Zepeda on Thursday with the announcement press conference.
Taking place on July 12 at the Louis Armstrong Stadium, Zepeda will finally get his shot at the man he has been chasing for the past year.
But before previewing the contest, Stevenson had a bone to pick with The Ring's Mike Coppinger when the pair sat down for a one-on-one interview.
Following an awkward start, Stevenson then called out Coppinger who he claimed that the WBC champion had been "ducking" his Mexican challenger.
"You will admit that he’s been ducking me," Stevenson said.
"I wouldn’t say ducking, but I see where you’re coming from," Coppinger replied before Stevenson quickly followed up with "So do you still have him over me?"
Coppinger then revealed that his rankings have indeed changed to have Stevenson over Zepeda.
"No I do not. I have you over him in the rankings."
"Oh wow, what changed?" Stevenson asked.
"You’ve been looking good and Zepeda had a couple of tough fights with Tevin Farmer, you and Farmer have very different styles," Coppinger explained.
Stevenson went on to preview his upcoming fight with Zepeda calling him "a tough task".
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However, the American is confident that he has too many tools at his disposal against Zepeda who he believes is a one dimensional fighter.
"Zepeda is a hell of a fighter; I think he will be a tough task for anybody in the division.
"He throws a billion punches a round, he’s coming in there to impose his will.
"The one thing is, we know what he’s coming to do, there are different things to my game where you don’t know what I’m going to come and do. You don’t know if I want to box and move, you don’t know if I want to stand in the pocket.
"He’s going to be clueless about my gameplan, but I’m very aware of his gameplan."
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