Shakur Stevenson may be about to get the fight he has been craving.
Stevenson became WBO super-lightweight champion last month when he defeated Teofimo Lopez by unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden in New York.
After his win, Stevenson called out welterweight Conor Benn and the pair were involved in a face-off in the ring, with the American making it clear he would be interested in that bout next.
One sticking point appeared to be a 10lb rehydration clause, which Stevenson insists would have to be in the contract for any fight at 147lbs, and initially Benn was reluctant to agree to.
It could now become a reality though, after Benn revealed on Ring Champs With Ak & Barak that he would now be willing to agree to the rehydration clause if the money was right.
“If he’s going to call me out, I’m going to make my presence known. I want Shakur next. I was talking to him and he was adamant he wants the rehydration clause. I said I’ll do it if the number is right. No problem.
“I’m disciplined, it’s unquestioned. You won’t see me doing any Eubank business posting for sympathy. I’ll do the weight properly and ultimately it comes at a price. Do I fancy that fight? Yes because I love the challenge of it.
“He’s a future pound-for-pound great. I think he’s too small. I wouldn’t try and box him, I’d just steam straight into him and fight him and take it to him and rough him up.”
Benn then revealed he will be sending a contract to Stevenson for the fight this week.
“I’ll get a contract over to Shakur this week. I won’t wait for him to send me one, I’ll get one over to him this week. Guaranteed.”
Benn was last in action in November when he defeated long-term rival Chris Eubank Jr in their rematch, and while he initially targeted a world title shot at 147lbs, it seems a welterweight non-title bout against 140lb champion Stevenson could now be his priority.
