Coach Andre Rozier questions whether or not Shakur Stevenson can come again from his current right-hand harm to be the fighter he was earlier than, and he doesn’t know if he’s going to have the ability to take care of a man like Gervonta Davis.
To have any probability towards WBA light-weight champion Tank, fighters have to be 100%, punching with energy, and never falling to the ground in ache after touchdown a punch. Shakur has nothing to battle Tank off.
He can’t win a choice, throwing solely jabs, weak proper arms, and operating across the ring. The judges gave Shakur a present in his battle with Edwin De Los Santos, however he can’t anticipate comparable particular therapy towards skills like Tank.
That might occur to Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) as a result of he’s been having hand issues since he moved as much as 135 final yr. That’s why he struggled towards Edwin De Los Santos final yr in November, and the identical drawback brought about the cancellation of his October twelfth protection towards Joe Cordina.
As soon as fighters begin struggling hand issues, it turns into a career-long factor. They’ll’t have a bionic hand surgically hooked up. Shakur has by no means had any energy, even when wholesome, however together with his hand issues, he’s going to be on the mercy of Tank and the opposite killers at 135, simply ready to destroy him.
“I’m 100% Gervonta Davis, and I believe he’s essentially the most troublesome process for anyone at 135,” stated coach Andre Rozier to Professional Boxing Followers. “He has the innate mixture of energy, accuracy, and precision, and he’s very economical together with his assaults.
“When he will get going and will get you in hassle, it’s a wrap. I’m all the time Workforce Gervonta Davis, and I believe he’ll reign for a really very long time. We don’t know what we’re going to get out of Shakur. He’s getting back from a hand harm. So, we don’t know.
“He’s a proficient fighter. He is aware of easy methods to management vary and distance. We have to know if he nonetheless has the flexibility to do this together with his arms. We have now to see how that harm has healed, after which I can let you know extra about him,” stated Rozier.
Shakur is likely to be wonderful if he’s matched selectively the way in which his new promoter, Eddie Hearn, had in thoughts for him by placing him in with Joe Cordina, a fighter who had been knocked out in his earlier battle and was wanting washed. If Shakur fights Tank, De Los Santos, Andy Cruz, or Raymond Muratalla, it could possibly be over for him.
Shakur doesn’t point out these guys. He desires to battle William Zepeda, and Floyd Schofield and George Kambosos Jr. as a result of he’s already sized them up. He feels assured he can beat them, and he in all probability can, nevertheless it received’t be simple if he’s performing on 50% capability as a one-handed fighter.
Combating Muratalla, Tank, De Los Santos, or Cruz can be the top for him. Hearn couldn’t eliminate Shakur shortly as soon as he misplaced to 1 or two of these guys. He ain’t going to place him on the identical costly four-fight rebuild job as he did with Anthony Joshua. It prices an excessive amount of, and people issues will nonetheless be there for Shakur as soon as he emerges from the 4 tomato can feeding.
“That’s one of many keys,” stated Rozier when instructed that Shakur would want to maintain Tank Davis off of him for 12 rounds. “Now, you’re speaking about two of one of the best lightweights. There are professionals and cons, however I believe after they get collectively, it’s going to be a incredible battle.”
Shakur couldn’t maintain Tank Davis off him if he had been within the image of well being, as he did when he turned professional in 2017 after his crying episode on the Olympics. Tank is simply too highly effective and would stroll by way of his photographs identical to Cuba’s Robeisy Ramirez did within the finals of the 2016 Olympics.
“It’s virtually paying homage to the Sugar Ray Leonard, Duran, Tommy Hearns days. These guys are so proficient that you simply don’t know which route you wish to go in there. However I believe after they do get in there, I believe all people goes to essentially get pleasure from what occurs,” stated Rozier.
