Three-division world champion Shakur Stevenson has vented his frustrations at the WBO after the sanctioning body ordered a clash for their vacant lightweight title that did not include him, despite previously holding the WBO super-featherweight title.
Stevenson recently announced a shock retirement from the sport, although there are few that will take the news seriously unless he vacates his WBC title, and now it is clear to see why.
He held WBO titles at both featherweight and super-featherweight before moving up in weight and facing Edwin De Los Santos in a dull but successful bid for the WBC lightweight crown and was clearly expecting a chance to become unified champion with the WBO.
However, the WBO has instead ordered a bout between Emanuel Navarrete and Denys Berinchyk, leaving Stevenson in the dark without an opponent who truly wants to face him. On social media, Stevenson reacted to the news, labelling it as ‘sickening and disgusting’.
“This is sickening. S**t is disgusting my n***a!”
Navarrete has been continuously linked to a showdown with Stevenson throughout their respective careers at both 126lbs and 130lbs and many fans felt that a lightweight clash between the duo was finally in the making.
For it to now manufacture, Navarrete will need to overcome the undefeated Ukrainian Berinchyk before talks of a unification contest can manufacture.
For Stevenson, the news could be detrimental as there are few contenders willing to take him on, after his widely-criticized outing against De Los Santos.
Some believe it has left him earmarked as a ‘high risk, low reward’ opponent, with his star power and potential draw as a pay-per-view fighter likely to feel to full effects of his performance against the Dominican Republican.