Shakur Stevenson Blasts Bob Arum – ‘Top Rank Or Nothing, Just Shut Up’
Shakur Stevenson is unhappy with Top Rank as he entered the final fight of his contract.
Stevenson’s next fight is this Saturday as he defends his WBC Lightweight Title against Artem Harutunyan. Shakur won the vacant title against Edwin De Los Santos but received criticism for his fighting style, resulting in many boos during the bout. Shakur claimed he injured his hand before the fight, but it was not enough to prevent the mass criticism.
Under Top Rank, Shakur has managed to become a three-weight world champion. However, he is still looking for that breakout fight. He could have boxed Vasiliy Lomachenko and Teofimo Lopez, both with Top Rank. They are big names, but Shakur has struggled to get those fights. Now, he has hit out at his promoter, Bob Arum, as he sees his future elsewhere.
Shakur On Arum
“Bob Arum is basically trying to say ‘Top Rank or nothing’ and basically trying to say that I don’t have any other options but Top Rank. Like, go see the market and come back to us…I think Bob should just shut up because he’s not really even really running his own company.”
The main issue Shakur faces is his fighting style. He is a very technical boxer but lacks that knockout power to go with it. Terence Crawford had to leave Top Rank to get the Errol Spence Jr. fight. But unlike Shakur, Bud has knockout power. He has stopped every opponent at 147, doing the same against Spence to become the first Undisputed Welterweight Champion of the four-belt era. Now, Crawford is in the running for the biggest fights.
He is working with the Saudis as he boxes Israil Madrimov on August 3 at 154 pounds. A win could then set up the Canelo Alvarez fight at 168 pounds. Stevenson has plenty of options. The main reason for signing with PBC is to get the Gervonta Davis fight. Tank has indicated that Shakur is on his hit list, making it the biggest fight at 135.
Shakur’s Decision
However, since PBC is losing a lot of fighters, there is less of an incentive to sign with PBC. PBC may have no choice but to work with other promoters, unlike previously, where they prefer to keep things in-house. There is also the option to sign with DAZN. A deal with DAZN offers Shakur fights with Liam Paro, Devin Haney and Subriel Matias, to name a few. Eddie Hearn has also talked up Shakur, stating that he wants to have a conversation about his future. Regardless of which he goes, Shakur wants to make a statement.
“I am coming in there as sharp as ever and in shape. I am ready and I can’t wait for July 6. [And] I ain’t looking to prove nothing to nobody. I am looking to prove things to myself. I just want to show what a 100 percent of myself can give. I’m ready for the big stage. As the lights get brighter, I get better and shine. I’m ready for anyone. It’s the dangerous version of me right now. Hopefully, we’ll get one of these big fighters to give me an opportunity,” Stevenson stated
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