Former world champion Keyshawn Davis believes that Ryan Garcia will face Shakur Stevenson next, with one man likely to get “his ass whooped.”
Garcia claimed the WBC welterweight title last Saturday, scoring a first-round knockdown before unanimously outpointing and dethroning Mario Barrios in Las Vegas.
After becoming a world champion, the 27-year-old then doubled down on his desire to face Stevenson, calling out the pound-for-pound star in his post-fight interview.
With Stevenson coming off a career-best victory over Teofimo Lopez, though, many would make the slick southpaw a sizable favourite against Garcia.
The 28-year-old became a four-division world champion last month, dropping just one round as he outpointed and dethroned Lopez in New York.
Prior to securing his WBO super-lightweight strap, the unbeaten technician had always claimed that 140lbs would be his limit, but is now open to colliding with Garcia at a catchweight of 144lbs.
In response to Stevenson’s proposed weight stipulation, Garcia has offered a verbal agreement, though it remains to be seen whether this will be upheld at the negotiating table.
Either way, super-lightweight contender Davis, who is a longtime friend of Stevenson, has opined that Garcia would not stand a chance against the defensive magician.
Speaking with Fight Hub TV, Davis insisted that, even while contending with a size disadvantage, Stevenson would enter their potential clash as an almighty favourite.
“I think he fights Shakur; I think he gets his ass whooped.”
With Garcia’s last two outings taking place at 147lbs, it will be interesting to see if he stays true to his word and agrees to concede 3lbs for the potential fight.
