Promoter Eddie Hearn slammed Oscar De La Hoya on Friday, saying he received’t enable Shakur Stevenson to battle William Zepeda until he’s signed to his Golden Boy Promotions for a long-term deal.
Hearn’s Imaginative and prescient for Stevenson
Zepeda is on the prime of Hearn’s checklist of fighters he desires to match WBC light-weight champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) in opposition to if he indicators him to his Matchroom Boxing steady. Nonetheless, in accordance with Hearn, De La Hoya will solely enable Shakur to battle Zepeda if he’s inked with Golden Boy.
If Hearn’s assertion about Shakur needing to be with Golden Boy for the Zepeda battle is true, that limits his choices for the New Jersey fighter if he does signal him. Hearn’s solely fighter at 135 is Andy Cruz, a defensive-minded contender from the identical mildew as Shakur.
A battle between Shakur and Cruz would resemble an newbie contender of each guys utilizing the hit-and-not-get-hit method and crowd booing nonstop. Apparently, Hearn doesn’t point out Cruz as a possible possibility for Shakur.
Restricted Choices for Matchroom
The one fighters in opposition to whom Hearn can assure to match Shakur are fighters signed to Matchroom at 140, equivalent to Liam Paro, Subriel Matias, Regis Prograis, Richardson Hitchins, and Jack Catterall.
These aren’t the fellows that may flip Shakur right into a star, and there’s a superb probability he appears to be like unhealthy in opposition to all of them in profitable efforts.
Had an excellent assembly with @ShakurStevenson representatives. @williamzepeda2 will solely battle him if Shakur is signed to @GoldenBoyBoxing
— Oscar De La Hoya (@OscarDeLaHoya) July 12, 2024
Criticizing De La Hoya’s “Shame to Boxing”
“For me, I don’t actually look after tying a fighter down for 5 fights or three years. In the event that they like working with you, they like working with you. In the event that they don’t, they don’t,” mentioned promoter Eddie Hearn to the media, speaking about Shakur Stevenson.
“Somebody like Golden Boy and people sort of guys. They are going to solely enable him [Shakur] to battle William Zepeda if he indicators a long-term take care of them. He [Oscar De La Hoya] additionally mentioned that he would solely make the battle if he was with Golden Boy, which is a shame to boxing.”
Sadly, it’s commonplace observe for promotional corporations to need fighters to signal contracts with their corporations to get sure fights in opposition to well-known, widespread fighters.
If De La Hoya desires Shakur to signal a contract with Golden Boy in change for a chance to battle the favored unbeaten future star, William Zepeda, he might don’t have any selection if he desires that battle. Both signal or be left defending his WBC light-weight titles in opposition to obscure fighters like Artem Harutyunyan.
“That is from a man who says promoters ought to work collectively and that the most effective ought to battle the most effective,” continued Hearn along with his rant on De La Hoya. “Now, you possibly can solely get Zepeda for those who’re with Golden Boy, which is weird. We’re [Matchroom Boxing] with the identical platform [DAZN].”
Hearn wants to just accept the truth of how the promotional enterprise works. As a substitute of crying about it, he ought to work inside the parameters of the skilled. If he desires to signal Shakur, he should be imaginative to determine what fights he could make. It could assist if Shakur is versatile and keen to maneuver as much as 140 and 147 to get the most effective fights.
Hearn’s Dedication to Safe the Zepeda Battle
“It’s not in regards to the promotional firm. It’s in regards to the platform and the fights you possibly can ship to your broadcaster,” mentioned Hearn. “So, I feel the fluidity of being a free agent is sweet and unhealthy. When you don’t have the contractual backing of somebody, individuals don’t must bid for fights [for example, Hearn & Matchroom not bidding for Devin Haney vs. Sandor Martin]; they don’t must pay for fights.
“We might be as fluid as Shakur. We are able to attempt to make the Zepeda battle for him. We are able to try to make one other battle for him,” mentioned Hearn.
It doesn’t sound promising for Hearn that he’ll get the Zepeda battle for Shakur, so he ought to let go of that concept and cease harping about it. He seems like a canine that received’t let go of an outdated bone. If Hearn desires to signal Shakur, which isn’t a good suggestion, he’ll should be a grade-A hustler to dig up compelling fights.
