To determine the opponent for the undisputed champion Devin Haney, Shakur Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) and Shuichiro Yoshino (16-0, 12 KOs) have reportedly agreed to compete on April 8 in a WBC lightweight championship eliminator. ESPN will carry the Top Rank-sponsored Stevenson vs. Yoshino fight.
Following the refusals of Isaac "Pitbull" Cruz, William Zepeda, and former unified lightweight champion George Kambosos Jr., Yoshino is the fourth boxer the WBC has requested to face the undefeated former two-division world champion, Shakur.
Tokyo native Yoshino, 31, has never engaged in a fight outside of Japan. He is coming off two stunning wins: a TKO in the 11th round in April over former 130-pound champion Masayuki Ito, and a KO in the 6th round in November over lightweight gatekeeper Masayoshi Nakatani.
Stevenson, a Newark native who turned pro after winning a silver medal in the Olympics, hasn't lost many matches. After defeating Joet Gonzalez by the decision to earn a vacant featherweight title in 2019, he proceeded to beat Oscar Valdez in April of the same year to unify 130-pound championships.
Stevenson, 25, will be eligible for a shot at Haney's four 135-pound belts if he defeats Yoshino in April. Haney is in negotiations to face Vasiliy Lomachenko in May and defend his undisputed lightweight title.
Image Credit: ESPN