The summer’s busiest fight week will close with fireworks as unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson defends against Mexico’s volume-punching menace William Zepeda on Saturday, 12 July, in New York City. DAZN will stream the event, billed as Ring Magazine 3 and tied to the launch of the publication’s new show Inside the Ring.
Stevenson returned in February with a ninth-round stoppage of late substitute Josh Padley, but the Newark southpaw faces a stylistic polar opposite in Zepeda. The undefeated Mexican averages a Compubox-leading 90+ punches per round and is fresh off back-to-back wins over former champion Tevin Farmer. The matchup pits Stevenson’s elite defence and counter timing against relentless pressure - a classic “matador versus bull” that should answer lingering questions about the champion’s entertainment value at 135 lbs.
Watch Shakur vs. Padley highlights: Watch
Co-main honours fall to a trans-Atlantic super-middle eliminator: Brooklyn knockout artist Edgar Berlanga meets Britain’s rangy technician Hamzah Sheeraz. Berlanga seeks redemption after last year’s decisive loss to Canelo Álvarez, while Sheeraz jumps two divisions after a debated draw with WBC middleweight king Carlos Adames. The winner moves to the front of the queue for a shot at Canelo’s undisputed crown.
Watch Adames vs. Sheeraz highlights: Watch
An explosive undercard strengthens the bill. Puerto Rican puncher Subriel Matías challenges WBC 140-lb champion Alberto Puello (24-0, 10 KOs) in a bout unlikely to hear the final bell, and former secondary super-middleweight title-holder David Morrell tries to rebound from his loss to David Benavidez when he faces Russian knockout machine Imam Khataev.
Ring Magazine 3 lands one night after Katie Taylor and Amanda Serrano settle their trilogy across town, giving New York a back-to-back prize-fighting festival.
Fight card:
▪️Shakur Stevenson vs. William Zepeda, 12 rounds, for the WBC World lightweight title
▪️Hamzah Sheeraz vs. Edgar Berlanga, 12 rounds, middleweight
▪️Alberto Puello vs. Subriel Matias, 12 rounds, for the WBC World super lightweight title
▪️David Morrell vs. Imam Khataev, 12 rounds, light heavyweight
