Shakur Stevenson has both ability and confidence in abundance and, as such, is not afraid of targetting and analysing other fighters at his weight class.
Stevenson was in Shawnee, Oklahoma for George Kambosos’ controversial win over Maxi Hughes earlier this year and found himself entangled in a ringside back and forth with Kambosos as he made his way into the dressing room.
There have been a few online spats between the pair since then, and Stevenson has this week labelled the Aussie “trash” in an interview with Mill City Boxing when asked about his rival’s career-best victory over Teofimo Lopez to become unified lightweight champion.
“There was something clearly wrong with Teo. Kambosos is trash, he’s not a good fighter. Honestly, I know there was something wrong with Teo.”
“I’ve known him since the amateurs, and he’s had a real bad asthma problem since the amateurs. I know for a fact that there was something wrong with Teo, it wasn’t Kambosos being anything special.”
“Plus, you could see his mental wasn’t there.”
Stevenson is back in the ring next month, when he takes on Dominican contender Edwin De Los Santos for the vacant WBC world lightweight title, formerly held by Devin Haney.
The former Olympic silver medalist had been due to take on countryman Frank Martin, however Martin and his team withdrew from the negotiations.
As for Kambosos, there are reportedly plans for him to face Vasily Lomachenko at some point next year, however the Ukrainian is currently taking a sabbatical from the sport – which he announced after he was ordered to fight Stevenson.
Lopez has bounced back in incredible fashion since the loss, moving up to super-lightweight and winning the WBO world title from previously undefeated Josh Taylor.