WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson sticks out in the sport as one of the most technically impressive fighters in the business, but he has now explained that there is one sparring partner is helping him ‘raise his game to another level.’
Stevenson was left heartbroken when he lost to Robeisy Ramirez in the Rio 2016 Olympic final, but that didn’t stop him making the switch to the professional game just months later.
Since then, Shakur has gone from strength to strength, dominating both the featherweight and super-featherweight divisions before stepping up to a hotly-contested lightweight scene.
In just his second bout at 135lbs, Stevenson regained his world champion status in a unanimous decision victory over Edwin De Los Santos, but despite the win, the performance was met with criticism as it broke records for a lack of activity during the contest.
On social media, Shakur declared how arguable pound-for-pound number one Terence Crawford is aiding his development ahead of his first lightweight world title defence, where the pressure will undoubtedly be on the 26-year-old to deliver a more exciting display.
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“Goat gave me 11 rounds fresh off his flight today and them mfs was fire work. He raising my game to another level appreciate u 4 life champ.”
In response, ‘Bud’ simply stated, ‘what is understood never needs to be explained’.
“What’s understood never need to be explained. Love you little bro we working. @shakurstevenson.”
Stevenson (21-0) is expected to defend his WBC crown against Germany’s Artem Harutyunyan (12-1) in a homecoming fight in Newark, New Jersey on July 6th.
Meanwhile, Crawford was expected to fight the winner of Tim Tszyu vs. Sebastian Fundora for the WBO and possibly WBC super-welterweight titles, although it seems as though he may instead take on a Brit for the WBO title.