American must negotiate with William Cepeda on fees
The World Boxing Council (WBC) has decided to hold a title fight in the lightweight division (up to 61.2 kg) and has set a date for negotiations.
World champion Shakur Stevenson (23–0, 11 KOs) from the USA will enter the ring against Mexican William Zepeda (33–0, 27 KOs), who holds the interim WBC title. The boxers must agree on the distribution of the prize fund by May 6, otherwise they will have to take part in promoter bidding.
Stevenson demands 70% for himself, while Zepeda is ready to give his opponent no more than 55% of the fund. Because of this, the American quarreled with the influential head of Riyadh Season, Turki Al-Sheikh, who was ready to organize a title fight, but ultimately refused.
“Turki promised me one set of terms, but then sent his guys with other documents. Mr. De La Hoya, let's negotiate with you. I'm still the champion and I'm not going to back out of the fight. We need to negotiate the finances,” Stevenson said.
The American last entered the ring on February 22 in Riyadh, when he knocked out Briton Josh Padley in the ninth round. Cepeda defeated Tevin Farmer of the United States by majority decision in March of this year.