WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson might not be able to coax rival Gervonta Davis into the ring with him. But he seems ready to fight someone who appeared on the undercard of Davis vs. Lamont Roach Jr. earlier this month. It so happens—that boxer is also Stevenson’s former sparring partner. But the question remains—who exactly is it?
Struggling with a recurring hand injury, Stevenson is coming off a 9th-round knockout against Josh Padley of England. The Brit replaced rising prospect Floyd Schofield Jr. after the 22-year-old claimed he could not participate due to illness in the eleventh hour. With Davis refusing to help unify the belts, Stevenson is left with tough choices.
Either keep fighting the limited number of contenders or move up to super lightweight where the current density of elite boxers is better. With that, recently crowned WBA super lightweight champion Gary Antuanne Russell has claimed that he reached out to Stevenson to make a fight. Russell feels he easily makes the weight at 140 lbs and wouldn’t mind stepping down to lightweight.
By the way, the 28-year-old southpaw recently left Jose Valenzuela black and blue on the undercard of Davis vs. Roach to snatch Valenzuela’s WBA belt. Regardless, it appears it’s Russell’s lucky day because Stevenson responded to his challenge on X. “lol crazy I got hella respect for cuz,” Stevenson wrote. “We used to spar every other day [for real].”
lol crazy I got hella respect for cuz we used to spar every other day frfr he don’t gotta take it no type of way but I would love to line it up wit him if the money make sense https://t.co/pK14vHRrLv
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) March 18, 2025
“He don’t gotta take it no type of way but I would love to line it up wit him if the money make sense,” Stevenson explained his one condition. Having joined Turki Alalshikh, Stevenson could secure a lucrative deal, especially since Russell had put on a clinic against ‘Rayo.’ However, there’s no guarantee the fight would end up happening. And let’s face it, Russell is not the man Stevenson really wants.
Despite failing to secure a fight against Gervonta Davis, Stevenson continues to hope Gervonta Davis will give him a break. When that may happen is unclear, especially after the Davis vs. Roach fight. But Stevenson has been shown the blueprint to beat Davis.
Gennady Golovkin’s former trainer on Shakur Stevenson vs. Gervonta Davis
Gennady Golovkin’s former trainer, Abel Sanchez, has weighed in on a potential clash between Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. While Stevenson is known for his defensive brilliance and tactical mastery, Sanchez believes he needs to adjust his approach to handle fighters like Davis. Speaking to FightHub TV, Sanchez said, “He’s gonna have to win rounds.”
April 8, 2023, Newark, New Jersey, USA: SHAKUR STEVENSON celebrates after defeating Shuichiro Yoshino in a WBC Lightweight Final Eliminator bout at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Newark USA – ZUMAp109 20230408_zaf_p109_006 Copyright: xJoelxPlummerx
“He just doesn’t do enough to win rounds decisively. Just not busy enough at times and too perfect. These guys are gonna do what’s necessary to win rounds.” Sanchez warned that Stevenson must show more aggression to succeed at this level, adding, “I don’t think that his approach can stay the way it is now and be able to deal with a Lamont or with a Gervonta.”
That said, Shakur Stevenson may have to settle for Gary Antuanne Russell for now, as the world hopes Gervonta Davis steps up to the challenge. Do you think Russell has a shot at winning the potential bout?
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