It’s tough watching someone else ascend the spotlight while you’re left waiting in the wings—especially when you’ve proven you’re among the best. WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson appears to be facing that very frustration, as WBA titleholder Gervonta Davis is now rumored to fight YouTube star Jake Paul before ever stepping in the ring with him.
‘The Problem Child,’ who is supposed to fight Julio Cesar Chavez Jr. on June 28, 2025, at the Honda Center in Anaheim, California, was originally vying for a fight against Canelo Alvarez earlier this year. However, that fight quickly fell apart after the Mexican superstar signed a four-fight deal with His Excellency Turki Alalshikh.
Disgruntled, Paul’s next move was to chase Gervonta Davis instead. According to reports, the pair was close to announcing a fight, but in a shocking turn of events, Davis failed to beat Lamont Roach Jr., reaching a majority decision draw in their March fight. This threw cold water on their plans to make the Paul vs. Davis fight.
Despite that, in an interview with The Ring recently, Paul shared an update about fighting Davis in November. “We’re working on it behind the scenes to make that happen,” Paul said. “Obviously, that’s a fight where the fans are going to win and it’s going to be the biggest event of the year.” He also noted that the fight would most likely be an exhibition, given the significant weight difference between the two.
Meanwhile, Stevenson, who has been vying for a fight against Davis for years, was pressed about his thoughts on Davis potentially facing Jake Paul. “ Man, ‘Tank’ [is] disrespectful to the sport if he chooses that over fighting with me,” Stevenson told Fight Hub TV. “ I’m the best fighter in the sport… He called cap on it. So if he gonna call cap and say I’m not who I say I am, come prove, bro.”
Stevenson will defend his titles against William Zepeda on July 12, 2025, at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Corona, Queens, New York City. On the other hand, the Baltimore native is expected to rematch Roach Jr. before moving on to his next endeavor, even if it involves Jake Paul. Regardless, Stevenson’s frustration with Davis has led him to roast the 30-year-old.
Shakur Stevenson isn’t happy about Gervonta Davis’ spot on rankings
Shakur Stevenson isn’t thrilled about Gervonta Davis being ranked ahead of him in Ring Magazine’s latest lightweight rankings. While the publication currently has no official lightweight champion, it lists Davis at No. 1, followed by Keyshawn Davis at No. 2 and Stevenson at No. 3. The undefeated Stevenson voiced his frustration in a May 16 interview with Fight Hub TV, referencing Davis’ recent performance.
“The guy at No. 1 is a guy that just had a draw in his last fight, right?” Stevenson said. “So then what are we talking about? It ain’t really even [worth] talking about.” Despite the snub, Stevenson isn’t letting it derail his focus. “It is what it is. I ain’t tripping. It’s funny to me, it’s all jokes. None of that s*** matters,” he added. “July 12 is the main concern.” Still, fans are hoping the ongoing tension leads to an eventual clash between Stevenson and Davis.
That said, Shakur Stevenson clearly feels slighted by Gervonta Davis’ decision to potentially face Jake Paul instead of stepping up for a real test. Davis, however, seems more interested in chasing paydays than taking on legitimate threats. The question is—does Stevenson deserve his shot?
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