Eddie Hearn has turned heads by likening Shakur Stevenson to the legendary Sugar Ray Leonard, but we think that such a praise is a serious stretch. While Shakur is a skilled three-division champion, the comparison to an all-time great such as Leonard - who faced Hall of Famers like Roberto Duran, Tommy Hearns, Marvin Hagler, and Wilfred Benitez before he turned 28 - strikes as premature. If you’re going to place Stevenson in Leonard’s class, he should be testing himself against equally dangerous opposition.
Stevenson, 27, is set to defend his WBC lightweight title against late replacement Josh Padley this Saturday in Riyadh, hardly the marquee name fans want to see him face. Some observers point out that Shakur could move up to 140 or beyond to pursue bigger challenges, much like Leonard did when he jumped weight divisions seeking the best competition. Instead, Stevenson remains at 135, where he hasn’t squared off with Gervonta Davis or Devin Haney and has shown little interest in a tough Andy Cruz matchup.
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Hearn, of course, has a business interest in hyping Shakur, saying he’s "one of the greatest pound-for-pound fighters on the planet right now." Still, it's fair to note that Leonard was never accused of lacking entertainment value.
Come Saturday night, Stevenson has a chance to make a statement. Yes, Padley is a step down from Floyd Schofield, who withdrew due to illness, but a dramatic or dominant victory could at least keep momentum rolling. The real test, though, is whether Shakur’s next fight sets him up against elite rivals - especially if he wants to justify those lofty Leonard comparisons.
Do you see a Sugar Ray Leonard in him, or do you think Hearn is jumping the gun?
Image Credit: Matchroom Boxing