Shakur Stevenson has poured cold water on talk of a move up to super lightweight – perhaps unsurprising given he’s only just made his debut at lightweight.
Already a two division world champion aged just 25, Stevenson has been tipped to win honours at multiple higher classes, and there have been some observers who have stated a move up to 140lb is inevitable for the Newark slickster.
However, in a recent interview with Fight Hub TV, Stevenson stated he plans to campaign in his current weight division for the foreseeable future.
“I’m a little 135er! I’m not moving up any time soon.”
The Olympic silver medalist announced his arrival at the lightweight division in style last month, dominating every minute against tough Japanese opponent Shuichiro Yoshino before referee Allen Huggins waved the contest off in the sixth round.
With wins over the likes of Oscar Valdez, Robson Conceicao and Jamel Herring on his CV, Stevenson is quickly accumulating one of the best resume in and around his weight class, despite foregoing a number of years’ experience to the majority of his competitors.
Stevenson is expected to land a shot at the winner of Devin Haney vs Vasiliy Lomachenko next, who will lock horns on May 20th for the undisputed lightweight world championship at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Also (hopefully) on the horizon for the southpaw is a monster fight with Gervonta Davis, following Davis’ seventh round stoppage win over Ryan Garcia last month, in what was undoubtedly the biggest commercial bout of 2023 thus far.
However, as seems to be the case with the majority of the most demanded fights in the sport, there are a host of promotional and broadcasting barriers that would need to be overcome for that particular all-American affair to take place.