Bernie Davis rejects Zepeda rematch against Shakur Stevenson

Bernie Davis has dismissed the possibility of a rematch between William Zepeda and Shakur Stevenson. Despite Zepeda's recent title win, Davis believes the Mexican fighter has not evolved since his previous encounter with Stevenson.

Zepeda secured the vacant WBC lightweight title earlier this month by defeating Lamont Roach via unanimous decision. While the victory earned Zepeda praise, Davis argued that the performance showed no significant change in his style. He claimed Zepeda lacks a specific method, stating that the fighter simply throws punches without aiming them properly.

Davis, who works as an assistant trainer for Terence Crawford and has spent time with Stevenson, was asked if the Roach victory warranted another title shot against Shakur. He immediately rejected the idea, insisting that Stevenson previously dominated the matchup. Davis described the earlier fight as a situation where Stevenson beat Zepeda up.

In their first meeting, Stevenson won a unanimous decision in a competitive lightweight contest. Zepeda performed well during the initial stages of that fight, though Stevenson gained control as the match progressed. While many observers viewed the bout as a close contest where Zepeda pushed Stevenson for long periods, Davis maintains a much harsher view of the outcome.

Regarding the recent fight against Roach, Davis noted that Roach failed to find a way to neutralize Zepeda's pressure. He suggested that Roach needed to use his jab and counter between combinations to slow the pace, but Zepeda's rhythm remained a problem. Even with the new WBC belt, Davis believes Zepeda remains the same fighter he was during his loss to Stevenson.