Oscar De La Hoya says William Zepeda might run it back with Tevin Farmer instead of jumping straight into a title fight with WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson - but only if Zepeda successfully defends against Floyd Schofield on February 22. That news may not sit well with Stevenson, who was counting on a Zepeda clash to boost momentum toward a unification bout with Gervonta “Tank” Davis later in 2025.
Zepeda, currently ranked #1 at 135, edged Farmer by a 10-round split decision on November 16 in Riyadh. Many observers felt Zepeda was the far sharper fighter, particularly down the stretch, landing body shots on a visibly fatigued Farmer. Despite Farmer knocking Zepeda down briefly in the fourth round, Zepeda dominated late, leaving some fans baffled by the tight scoring.
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De La Hoya sees a rematch with Farmer as a “terrific fight,” praising Farmer’s skill outside the ring. However, critics argue a second bout might be a time-waster if Zepeda is aiming for bigger fish like Stevenson or a Tank Davis unification. Meanwhile, Farmer, 34, has taken considerable punishment in back-to-back losses to Zepeda and Raymond Muratalla, raising questions about how much he has left.
Before any of that can happen, Shakur must defend his top spot against Schofield in February. De La Hoya, who promotes Schofield, believes Kid Austin could spring an upset, which would shake up an already crowded lightweight picture.
William Zepeda’s career is available here.
Image Credit: Golden Boy Promotions