Shakur Stevenson, an ambitious two-division titlist and current lightweight contender from Newark, New Jersey, is well aware of his position in the boxing world. He recently commended Gervonta Davis, the Baltimore-based boxer, for his impressive performance against Ryan Garcia in a highly anticipated bout held at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. The fight, which saw Davis defeat Garcia with a devastating left hand to the body in the seventh round, was a massive success both on pay-per-view and at the box office.
Stevenson has long believed that a fight between himself and Davis would be one of the most exciting events in the sport. He demonstrated his self-awareness and pragmatism by acknowledging Davis as the A-side in their potential bout. Stevenson further emphasized that any fight between the two would depend on Davis’ decision. This stance is understandable, as Davis currently holds considerable leverage in the boxing world, reminiscent of Floyd Mayweather's influence in his prime.
However, there is a significant obstacle in the way of a potential Stevenson-Davis showdown: the promotional rivalry between Top Rank, which represents Stevenson, and Premier Boxing Champions, which backs Davis. Despite this complication, Stevenson remains eager and ready to face Davis in the ring. He made his enthusiasm clear in a recent interview with TMZ, stating, “I’m ready right now, I’m ready right now (to fight Davis).”
The 25-year-old Stevenson is fresh off a triumph in his lightweight debut, having scored a sixth-round knockout against Shuichiro Yoshino earlier this month in Newark’s Prudential Center. Despite his obvious hunger for the fight, Stevenson expressed his respect for Davis’ recent performance and acknowledged that the decision ultimately rests with the boxing star. As fans eagerly await news of a potential Stevenson-Davis matchup, both fighters continue to make their mark on the boxing world.
Image Credit: ESPN