Shakur Stevenson says Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis’s administration contacted his facet for a combat subsequent, however he hasn’t heard something again since asking them to ship a contract. Tank’s silence is a reasonably clear message of disinterest.
The WBC light-weight champion Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) says he’s open to combating a unification combat in opposition to Tank Davis in November if the phrases may be agreed to the combat.
Tank nonetheless doesn’t have an opponent for his subsequent combat after his hoped-for combat in opposition to IBF champion Vasily Lomachenko fell out. Shakur can be a very good plan B choice for Tank, however the possibilities of that combat taking place are slim.
Shakur’s Negotiating Stance
Stevenson could possibly be troublesome to barter with as a result of he views himself on the identical stage as Tank Davis, and that’s not the place he’s. With Stevenson’s excessive opinion of himself, he might make negotiating a combat with the celebrity Tank inconceivable.
He would humble himself to get that match negotiated, and he’s unlikely to do this. There’s an excessive amount of satisfaction there, and he appears to really feel that his previous achievements, capturing three division world titles and successful a silver medal within the 2016 Olympics, imply one thing. It doesn’t. That’s all empty fluff when negotiating a combat with the ‘Face of Boxing’ Tank Davis, and it could be higher for Shakur to understand that sooner somewhat than later.
Shakur’s recognition continues to be lagging, and he’s acquired to boost it by altering his safety-first type of combating to what Twenty first-century followers need to see.
The New Jersey native Shakur is behind the instances along with his boring, retro Mayweather-esque type, which might forestall him from getting the fights he needs in opposition to Tank Davis and Vasily Lomachenko.
Tank Davis’ Silence: What This Means
“I assume they needed to make the combat, and we stated, ‘Ship the provide,’” Shakur Stevenson informed Boxing Information about Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis desirous to combat him. “We haven’t heard something again but, however that combat goes to occur.”
The silence from Tank Davis’ facet is a powerful message to Shakur that he’s not occupied with combating him and is specializing in one other goal. I can’t say I blame Tank Davis as a result of a combat between him and Shakur received’t promote now.
The 27-year-old Stevenson’s final two performances in opposition to Artem Harutyunyan and Edwin De Los Santors had been abysmal. We noticed how Shakur’s followers shortly departed his final combat in opposition to Harutyunyan properly earlier than the competition was over final July, and the occasion wasn’t near a sellout.
“Me and him are the perfect fighters arising, the perfect fighters within the 135-lb division. There’s no means the combat will not be going to occur,” Shakur continued about Tank Davis conflict that he needs.
Followers don’t contemplate Shakur one of many two finest fighters within the division. They nonetheless see Lomachenko and Tank as the perfect two. Shakur is seen as a defensive man who hasn’t fought anybody since shifting as much as 135 and seemed horrible in opposition to De Los Santos final yr.
Followers are extra occupied with Abdullah Mason as a fighter arising than in Shakur, who is thought extra for his social media and self-promotion exercise than his performances. Stevenson is great at selling himself, however his fights are at all times disappointing and don’t entertain followers.
“I do know followers are going to scream to say all this stuff about this man is ducking,” stated Shakur. “I’m not scared to combat him, and he’s not scared to combat me. It’s going to be a hell of a combat when the combat occurs.”
Shakur is partly proper when he says a combat between him might be a “hell of a combat,” however differently. The promotion might be good, however the precise combat could possibly be very boring, involving a number of motion by Stevenson as a result of he can’t stand and combat Tank Davis with out getting blown out.
“Yeah, if the phrases may be agreed and it is smart for him and me business-wise, the combat can undoubtedly occur,” stated Shakur when requested if he can Tank Davis might probably combat on November twenty third.
Once more, I see Shakur taking pictures himself within the foot when negotiating the combat with Tank Davis by pricing himself out, believing he’s on the identical stage as him.
The Want for Humility
Shakur thinks that as a result of he holds the WBC title, he’s on equal footing with Tank, and that’s not actuality.
Stevenson would possibly as properly be a contender as a result of, popularity-wise, he’s not in the identical galaxy because the celebrity Tank Davis, and that’s going to finally forestall a combat between them from taking place. Stevenson wants to grasp his place, humble himself, and are available to Tank with the understanding that he’s coping with royalty, the king.
“I assumed he seemed actual good in opposition to Frank Martin. It was too excessive of a stage for Frank Martin,” stated Stevenson when requested about his ideas on Tank Davis’ latest efficiency in opposition to Frank Martin. “I assumed Tank raised the extent up, and Frank wasn’t capable of compete at that stage.
