Shakur Stevenson isn’t holding back when it comes to his thoughts on Vasily Lomachenko, claiming that the former three-division champion “ducked” him back in 2023. The 25-year-old recalls moving up to lightweight two years ago and being hopeful for a showdown with Lomachenko, a fighter he admittedly “looked up to” throughout his career. Now, he’s frustrated, calling Loma’s avoidance a disappointment that left him questioning a boxer he once held in high regard.
Even then, it’s possible Lomachenko may not have seen the risk-reward balance in Stevenson’s favor. At that time, Shakur wasn’t exactly a big ticket-seller, and even now, his latest fight against Josh Padley on Turki Alalshikh’s February 22 card was relegated to the undercard. Meanwhile, Lomachenko, though he’s 37 and has lost some sheen, remains a dangerous, offensively dynamic presence. He’s fought just twice in the last two years, notably beating George Kambosos Jr. in his most recent outing, and he may never revisit an opportunity to battle Stevenson now that he’s inching closer to the twilight of his career.
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Still, Stevenson holds that Lomachenko’s decision was more about avoiding him than a scheduling or business choice. He reasons that “Tank” Davis or Devin Haney, despite being star attractions, are at least open to making a fight happen once the terms are right. In Shakur’s eyes, it was the Ukrainian champion’s job to prove himself against the best, but he thinks Loma preferred to sidestep that challenge rather than jeopardize his legacy.
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