A notable night of professional boxing unfolded at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, delivering two distinct, yet equally decisive, performances in its top-billed contests. The evening featured a masterclass in defensive skill and counter-punching, followed by an exhibition of raw, fight-ending power.
In the co-main event, WBC Lightweight Champion Shakur Stevenson stepped into the ring against challenger William Zepeda. Stevenson, boasting an undefeated record of 24 wins with 11 knockouts, faced the high-volume output of Zepeda, who entered with a record of 33 wins, 1 loss, and 27 knockouts. The anticipation centered on whether Stevenson, known for his supreme technical ability and defense, would engage or revert to a more cautious approach against a dangerous puncher.
What transpired was a calculated and compelling display from Stevenson. Far from merely avoiding the action, the champion held his ground, employing educated pressure and surgical counter-attacks. He absorbed Zepeda`s relentless, yet often deflected, barrage on his guard and arms, patiently waiting for openings. Stevenson`s arsenal was on full display: precise jabs to the body, sharp uppercuts, and fluid combinations that consistently found their target. While Zepeda managed to land a solid right hand in the third round that briefly tested Stevenson, moments of genuine trouble for the champion were exceedingly rare.
Despite Zepeda`s admirable tenacity and consistent effort, he was ultimately outmatched by Stevenson`s superior speed, accuracy, and ring generalship. The fight went the distance, and the judges` scorecards reflected the one-sided nature of the contest, reading 118-110 twice and 119-109, all in favor of the defending champion. Stevenson`s performance solidified his position atop the lightweight division and demonstrated his capability to deliver exciting fights when the strategy demands it, proving that technical brilliance can be just as captivating as brute force.
Following Stevenson`s clinical victory, the main event saw Hamzah Sheeraz take on Edgar Berlanga in a middleweight clash. Sheeraz, moving up in weight with a record of 21 wins, 1 draw, and 17 knockouts (including a significant KO streak halted only by his recent draw), faced Berlanga, known for his electrifying start to his career with 16 consecutive first-round knockouts, though his recent bouts had largely gone the distance (23-1, 18 KOs before this fight).
This bout quickly shifted from a competitive matchup to a demonstration of Sheeraz`s power. While Berlanga sought to impose his will, Sheeraz`s strength and timing proved overwhelming. In the fourth round, Sheeraz landed forcefully, sending Berlanga to the canvas not once, but twice. These knockdowns visibly shook Berlanga and signaled the beginning of the end. Sheeraz wasted no time capitalizing on his advantage in the subsequent round, pressing the action and delivering the finishing blows that prompted the referee to halt the contest early in the fifth round.
The victory marked a significant statement for Hamzah Sheeraz in the middleweight division and returned him to his knockout-winning ways. For Edgar Berlanga, the loss represents his second professional defeat and highlights the considerable challenge posed by top-tier opponents after his initial meteoric rise based on first-round finishes. The night showcased two different paths to victory in boxing – the calculated, defensive mastery of Stevenson and the decisive, offensive power of Sheeraz – providing clarity in their respective weight classes.
Ellis Thorne 
Percy Harlow