Tim Bradley believes the drop-off in Shakur Stevenson’s performances in latest fights resulted from undisclosed accidents since his transfer as much as light-weight in 2023.
Boxing commentator Bradley feels that Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) has been “quiet” about preventing harm since transferring as much as 135, so he seemed so poor in opposition to Edwin De Los Santos and Artem Harutyunyan. Shakur appeared afraid to get hit in these fights and didn’t belief his chin.
A Profession-Lengthy Challenge?
Bradley doesn’t say whether or not his principle on Shakur being injured has been a career-long factor as a result of he’s been equally boring since 2019 in fights in opposition to these guys:
– Jeremiah Nakathilia
– Christofer Diaz
– Oscar Valdez
– Joet Gonzalez
– Robson Conceicao
If Shakur’s play-it-safe preventing method is because of accidents since 2019, he might need to think about retirement or dropping to 126 kilos.
“In latest fights, we haven’t seen the very best of Shakur. That could possibly be with accidents, and Shakur is the kind of fighter who’s quiet about his accidents. He don’t like to speak an excessive amount of about them. He retains it a secret. So possibly he’s coping with one thing. That’s why we haven’t seen his finest,” mentioned commentator Tim Bradley to the Title Sports activities Community YouTube channel about why Shakur Stevenson has seemed so poor just lately.
Carrying Water for Shakur?
It feels like Bradley is carrying water for Shakur, making excuses for him to cowl up the truth that he’s not an entertaining fighter and by no means has been from day one. If Shakur was injured, why did he struggle the identical approach as an beginner? He’s all the time fought the identical approach.
He misplaced to Robeisy Ramirez within the 2016 Olympics as a result of he performed tag and ran across the ring. The judges wouldn’t give Shakur a victory with that terrible fashion, so he misplaced. Afterward, he cried dry tears, feeling robbed. Shakur didn’t need to face the reality.
“So far as coping with the critics, allow them to discuss,” mentioned Bradley in regards to the criticism Shakur is receiving. “Simply maintain profitable, champ. Hold proving folks unsuitable. If you happen to get the [William] Zepeda struggle, exit and do your factor. Win by all prices. That’s it. So far as leisure worth, these followers pay to see you struggle. There’s a steadiness you’ve acquired to have as a fighter.”
William Zepeda Problem
The probabilities of Shakur defeating #1 contender William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) are fairly low. He received’t show anybody unsuitable preventing Zepeda subsequent February, as that’s a probable knockout loss for Shakur. If he doesn’t get knocked out, he’s going to run your entire 12 rounds, and he’ll obtain large criticism.
In contrast to the Shakur-De Los Santos conflict, the struggle with Zepeda can be seen by many followers, and the backlash Stevenson will obtain for working from him can be neverending.
Shakur has acquired to be involved with the critics as a result of his purpose is to be a PPV star and get the large fights. Prime fighters aren’t going to need to face Shakur if he’s not standard and received’t interact, and there’s the danger of being robbed like De Los Santos was final November.
“There’s a steadiness between taking part in it secure and profitable or simply performing, taking just a little bit extra danger for the leisure worth,” mentioned Bradley. “You bought to steadiness and being just a little bit secure on the identical time. It’s a steadiness you bought to search out. What we noticed that with Shakur was [Jamel] Herring [in October 2021 at super featherweight]. Once we noticed that was Shakur was Oscar Valdez [in 2022 at 130]. Once we noticed that with Shakur was when he fought in opposition to [Robson] Conceicao [in September 2022 at 130].”
Shakur didn’t look good in opposition to Valdez and Conceicao. Certainly, he was boring in each fights, retreating every time attacked. Shakur seemed first rate in opposition to the 35-year-old Herring as a result of he was previous, sluggish, and weak.
“He was there, he was within the pocket, he was getting hit, and he was buying and selling with guys. That was after we noticed him [Shakur] at his very best,” mentioned Bradley, failing to say that issues have modified for Stevenson since transferring as much as 135, the place fighters have extra energy and he’s uncomfortable.
