Shakur Stevenson may be set to face Vasily Lomachenko for the WBC lightweight world title following Devin Haney’s decision to move up in weight.
Haney, who currently holds all four belts in the division, is slated to step up to super-lightweight and challenge Regis Prograis for his belt.
The WBC has announced that the 24-year-old will be named ‘champion in recess’ if he does so, and that its mandatory challenger, Stevenson, will face the top available contender. Currently, that is Lomachenko.
With the fight a very realistic possibility, predictions are beginning to come in. ‘Showtime’ Shawn Porter believes the chess match lays firmly in the favour of the younger man.
The former welterweight world champion told FightHype that, whilst formerly unified Lomachenko was once ahead of the pack, Stevenson is now leading the charge.
“That fight makes sense. I think that Shakur is steps ahead of everybody. He’s right there with Devin Haney, he’s right there with Tank. I think he’s a step ahead of Vasily Lomachenko.
I truly think that the boxing world has caught up to Loma. For a long time he was ahead of his time, and I think that time has caught up with him.”
Lomachenko has world titles in three weights whilst Stevenson is catching up with two. The Ukrainian is a shoo-in for the Hall of Fame, and young Shakur will feel he can make his own case over the next decade.
Haney was the target for Lomachenko, a rematch following their May bout which he felt was wrongly awarded to the champion. With that off the table, fans agree that Stevenson is the fight that makes the most sense.