Shakur Stevenson has signed a contract with Matchroom Boxing for his subsequent battle in opposition to former IBF tremendous featherweight champion Joe Cordina on October twelfth in a Riyadh Season occasion on the undercard of Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol on the Kingdom Area in Saudi Arabia.
Some really feel this can be a demotion for Shakur, with him being relegated to undercard standing after two consecutive lackluster performances. Nonetheless, it’s extra of a case of his battle in opposition to Cordina being nowhere on the degree to take the highest spot from the Beterbiev-Bivol undisputed gentle heavyweight championship bout, which is a unique galaxy by way of high quality preventing.
Shakur will return to important occasion standing in his subsequent battle in opposition to William Zepeda, offered he doesn’t lose to Cordina. You possibly can’t rule out a win for Cordina as a result of he’s one battle faraway from being a world champion.
Hearn’s Excessive Hopes for Stevenson
Promoter Eddie Hearn believes he can remodel Shakur right into a famous person within the U.S., however that can be thought as a result of his preventing type is outdated and extra suited to a unique period earlier than cable tv, UFC, and social media. To be a star on this period, you’ve bought to entertain, and Shakur falls far wanting that mark.
It’s believed this can be a one-fight deal for WBC light-weight champion Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) to defend in opposition to Matchroom-promoted Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) for His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s occasion in Riyadh.
If Shakur wins, his subsequent title protection is predicted to be in opposition to #1 ranked WBC contender William Zepeda (31-0, 27 KOs) in February. That’s the dangerous make-or-break one for Shakur, who has by no means fought anybody close to nearly as good as Zepeda within the professional ranks, and the wheels might come off.
The Dream Match: Gervonta Davis
The battle that Hearn is chomping on the bit for is Gervonta Davis for Shakur in 2025, however he’s bought to get previous Cordina and Zepeda first earlier than they will sort out the negotiations for that battle. Even Cordina is a harmful battle for Shakur as a result of he’ll be swinging for the fences with nothing to worry. Cordina is deadly in opposition to non-punchers, and Shakur can’t crack eggs along with his pictures.
That can be troublesome to place collectively as a result of if Shakur insists on a 50-50 deal, the talks will implode, and he’ll be proper again the place he began; he’ll proceed struggling to change into a star. I don’t suppose it’s potential to show Shakur into a real star on this period.
Followers count on to be entertained these days, and there are too many different issues to have a look at than watching a boring ‘Hit and don’t get hit’ fighter. Shakur would wrestle to achieve followers even throughout Mayweather’s period.
“Shakur Stevenson is 27 and already a three-division World champion and could be unbeatable within the sport of boxing,” mentioned Hearn. “This younger man ought to be a worldwide famous person, and I consider with our machine behind him, he’ll land all the massive fights and obtain all of the credit score that he deserves. The journey begins on October 12 in Riyadh on an enormous card, and we can’t look ahead to the long run collectively.”
This ought to be a very good pairing so long as Hearn is prepared to stay with Shakur by poor performances and losses to Zepeda and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis. Hearn is great at hyping up his fighters’ contests.
When he has a man struggling and now not in a position to preserve his head above the waterline, like Anthony Joshua, he can defend them with delicate match-making. He may have to try this with Shakur if he indicators him to a long-term deal.
Shakur’s three division title wins:
- Edwin De Los Santos: WBC 135
- Jamel Herring: WBO 130
- Joet Gonzalez: WBO 126
Hearn doesn’t have many choices for Shakur at 135 if he can’t arrange fights with Gervonta Davis or William Zepeda. Except Shakur is prepared to maneuver as much as 140, these are what’s in retailer for him at Matchroom:
Andy Cruz
Cameron Vuong
Gary Cully
If that’s all there may be for Shakur with Matchroom, Hearn may have a variety of hassle turning him into a worldwide famous person like he hopes. This isn’t ‘Area of Desires,’ the place you create one thing and hope followers will wish to see it. Shakur is just not the cup of tea for followers, not less than within the U.S.
Possibly the Brits will fancy Shakur’s safety-first type, however I wouldn’t depend on it. A fighter that’s an eye-sore for U.S. followers is similar for the Brits.
MONEY MONEY MONEY 💰
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) August 22, 2024
