Shakur Stevenson Acknowledges That His Retirement Is Fake News – ‘I’m Waiting’
Shakur Stevenson will come out of retirement if the right fight presents itself.
The WBC Lightweight Champion shocked the boxing world by announcing his decision to leave the sport. He had just beaten Edwin De Los Santos to pick up the WBC Belt, making him a three-division champion. But his style was criticized for being too defensive, partly due to a hand injury coming into the fight.
Stevenson paid the price as he was booed during the bout. That harmed his chances of securing fights with Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney because they no longer saw him as an attractive option to sell to fans. Things were exacerbated by the WBO’s decision to order Emanuel Navarrete vs Denys Berinchyk for the vacant belt at 135, as it prevented Stevenson from unifying. Since the only other big fighter, Vasiliy Lomachenko is fighting George Kambosos Jr. on May 12 for the vacant IBF belt, Stevenson felt he had no big fights. That is why he is biding his time for the right opportunity.
Stevenson Reacts
“I’m waiting for the opportunity for me to come out of retirement. I got a WBC belt. So all roads to undisputed, being at 135, it come through me. We can already see them unifying, Lomachenko and a Navarrete fight.
“They can’t become the undisputed champion without coming to get the WBC strap off of me. They can do whatever they want, but I’m still going to be right here waiting on everybody. My opportunity got to come. There’s no way of becoming undisputed at 135 without one of those dudes coming to see me,” Stevenson said
Floyd Mayweather became known for retiring and returning to secure world title fights with big paydays. But there is a danger that Stevenson harms his boxing game by remaining inactive. He could equally get in more fights to sharpen his skills.
Stevenson’s Anger
There will also come a time when he will have to face his mandatories, and there is no guarantee that other fighters will pursue undisputed. Gervonta Davis is the current WBA Lightweight Champion after he was elevated from his regular status once Devin Haney vacated and moved up to 140. But Davis was unhappy about being elevated, showing no desire to become undisputed. Shakur will have to contend with that if he wants all the belts at 135.
“It has a lot to do with the fighters don’t want to fight me. You don’t hear anybody saying they want to negotiate and become WBC champion, and I think that’s a weird thing. You don’t hear nobody wanting to step up and fight for that WBC strap,” Stevenson added
But with one fight left on his Top Rank deal, Stevenson can look at other promoters. PBC and DAZN have been mentioned as possible alternatives. To secure those mega fights, he may have to do that. But in the meantime, Stevenson will have to deal with the backlash coming his way.
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