A current world champion is targeting a ‘viral’ unification match with Shakur Stevenson, while also calling out Gervonta Davis for a voluntary title defence.
Stevenson became the WBO super-lightweight champion in January, dethroning Teofimo Lopez with a wide unanimous decision victory at Madison Square Garden.
In doing so, the 28-year-old cemented himself as a four-division world champion but has since expressed an interest in moving back down to 135lbs.
Davis, meanwhile, has not fought since March 2025, back when he defended his WBA world lightweight title with a controversial draw against Lamont Roach.
Since then, the 31-year-old has been stripped of his belt and instated as WBA ‘champion in recess’, partly because of his arrest warrant for domestic violence charges.
But while Davis could potentially defend his title upon returning to the sport, there is equally a chance that he rematches Isaac Cruz at 140lbs.
Should he become available at the weight, then WBA champion Gary Antuanne Russell would gladly offer ‘Tank’ a world title opportunity.
Equally, the 29-year-old has told MillCity Boxing that he hopes to unify the super-lightweight division against Stevenson in what he envisions being a “viral” showdown.
“It would go viral. If it’s not [Stevenson], it gotta be another name – a ‘Tank’ coming back.
“Don’t forget I’m right here, ‘Tank’. You know how many people been wanting to see me and ‘Tank’ rumble, or my brother [Gary Russell Jr] rumble [with] ‘Tank’?”
Russell unanimously outpointed mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka in February, meaning he is due a voluntary defence of his WBA title.
Davis, however, could become an unrealistic option if he chooses to return at 135lbs, where No.1 contender Floyd Schofield has lobbied the WBA to either order his fight with ‘Tank’ or grant him a vacant title shot. Report suggest that ‘Tank’ may well move up to 140 on his comeback, with a rematch against Isaac Cruz already mentioned.
