NEWS: STEVENSON WANTS ZEPEDA; WEEKEND'S BETTING ODDS, JARON ENNIS RETURN SET & MORE
COULD WE BE GETTING CLOSER TO SHAKUR STEVENSON VS. WILLIAM ZEPEDA?
By: Jay Calderon
After years of the best Lightweights in the world seemingly unable to mention one another by name, it appears we have some top-flight participants willing to do more than just claim to be the best without putting in the actual work.
Recently, former Jr. Lightweight champion of the world Shakur Stevenson expressed a willingness to face once-beaten Isaac Cruz, after the WBC had ordered such a fight to be made. However, when it appeared as though the team of Cruz had little interest, Stevenson suggested fights with fellow highly-rated contenders instead.
"If the little puppy (Cruz) doesn't want to fight, let's get who is next in line. Isn't it William Zepeda or George Kambosos? It doesn't really matter. I'm ready to smoke someone regardless," Stevenson claimed through social media.
And that's where things got interesting.
Shortly after his comments, the unbeaten Zepeda fired back with some words of his own, stating, "Don't mention me. Send me a contract for when and where...and we'll be there."
Shortly thereafter, Stevenson claimed through social media that was reposted by FightHype.com that Zepeda's team wasn't interested in making the fight just yet, hoping to let the fight build. However, Stevenson doesn't seem too keen on letting any proposed bout marinate.
"Yo, William Zepeda, offer was sent today," tweeted Stevenson.
If only if were all that simple.
While one hopes a fight could be this easy to make in boxing, there is still much that could get in it's way. For starters, one has to remember the promoters and broadcasters involved.
Currently, Stevenson is signed to Top Rank Promotions, which airs their fights exclusively on ESPN. Meanwhile, Zepeda is signed to Golden Boy Promotions, and they have worked mostly through streaming platform DAZN.
A deal isn't impossible, especially if the fight is eventually ordered through a sanctioning body if fighters such as the aforementioned Cruz opt out of those opportunities. Still, with boxing as fragmented as it is in 2022, one gets the sense this fight might not happen.
Fingers crossed that I'm dead wrong about this one.
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WEEKEND BETTING ODDS: ZEPEDA-PROGRAIS, PARKER-RYDER, WHYTE-FRANKLIN & MORE
On Friday, Harlem Eubank will take on Tom Farrell at York Hall in London, and live on Channel 5, England in Jr. Welterweight action. Currently, Eubank is at a -1300 while Farrell is the heavy underdgo at +710.
Then on Saturday, at the 02 Arena in London, England, live on BT Sport in the UK and ESPN in the US, Super Middleweight contenders Zach Parker and John Ryder will battle it out for an interim title. Currently, as of this writing, the odds are fairly close, with Parker coming in at -240 and Ryder landing at +180. Click here for my prediction.
Also in London, at the OVO Wembley Arena, and live on DAZN, Heavyweight contender DIllian Whyte will return to action against Jermaine Franklin. Whyte is the massive betting favorite at -1450 with the American underdog landing at +750.
Also, at the Dignity Health Sports Park in Carson, California, and live on pay-per-view, Jose Zepeda will take on Regis Prograis for a vacant portion of the Jr. Welterweight title. While the odds were once much closer, Prograis is now a heavy favorite at -460 while Zepeda is a sizeable underdog, coming in at +320. Click here for my prediction.
To check out the rest of the schedule and betting odds, you can click here.
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JARON ENNIS RETURNS ON GERVONTA DAVIS-HECTOR GARCIA UNDERCARD
According to Dan Rafael (@DanRafael1 on Twitter), talented Welterweight Jaron Ennis will make his return to the ring on the January 7 card headlined by Gervonta Davis vs. Hector Garcia.
Ennis, undefeated in 29 contests as a professional, has tremendous skills, stopping 27 of his previous foes. Due in part to that talent, the American has had a tough time getting opponents to fight him.
In fact, outside of a May encounter with Custio Clayton, which Ennis won via knockout, the Philadelphian hasn't been active all of 2022. For perspective, with the Clayton fight ending quickly, Ennis has gone less than two full rounds in the calendar year.
It's hard to imagine this being helpful to a young, burgeoning talent that needs experience and rounds before he steps up to the elite level of the sport.
As mentioned, some of this can be attributed to fighters and their respective teams being unwilling to be reasonable during negotiations for a potential fight. However, with the upside Ennis has shown, you would hope his promoter, Cameron Dunkin, could find a bit more activity for "Boots".
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