William Zepeda is currently like 24k gold in the boxing world. His win over Tevin Farmer has made him highly in demand at 135 pounds. He finds himself in an ideal situation where he can choose his opponents carefully. Many champions are eager to fight him due to his popularity and exciting fighting style.
After his victory, Zepeda revealed that other champions have mentioned his name and he will pursue the best deal. He already went through the trouble of beating his clone, Farmer, and it would be a waste not to fight Shakur Stevenson next.
Shakur Stevenson has been in talks about facing Zepeda for over a month. However, if Tank Davis snatches Zepeda up, Shakur will need to consider backup options. He can always defend his WBC title against fighters like Raymond Muratalla, Andy Cruz, Keyshawn Davis, or Edwin De Los Santos.
For Shakur, getting the Zepeda fight is crucial. He wants to prove himself against a top opponent and continue his rise in the boxing world.
Eddie Hearn believes this is the best card he has seen in Riyadh. Many fights are agreed in principle and the contracts just need to be signed. He is confident that the February 22nd card will be an incredible event from top to bottom.
He also mentioned that the Shakur vs. Zepeda fight was discussed even before Zepeda fought Tevin Farmer. Now, with Zepeda's newfound popularity, he is in high demand by champions at 135 and possibly even 140. Zepeda doesn't need Shakur; it's the other way around.
Zepeda himself expressed his readiness to face whoever is next. He is confident in his abilities and looking forward to his next challenge.