Four-division world champion Shakur Stevenson called for a clash with Conor Benn after his latest victory, but now the Newark southpaw has named a different fighter as his ideal next opponent.
Stevenson dethroned Teofimo Lopez to become the WBO super-lightweight world champion last month, thrusting his name higher up the pound-for-pound rankings and taking his stardom to a new level.
Before the contest, the 28-year-old voiced his intention to return to the lightweight division, but that now seems to have changed.
Immediately after his victory over Lopez, Shakur’s willingness to fight at 147lbs was clear, as he called for a fight with Benn and opened the door to a potential super-fight on British soil.
Now, it appears as though Stevenson’s move to the welterweight division could soon go ahead, but he told streamer Adin Ross that his ideal next opponent would be an alternate 147lb operator, Ryan Garcia.
“I like Ryan, Ryan Garcia. I would love to fight Ryan Garcia.”
Later this month, Garcia will take on WBC welterweight world champion Mario Barrios in a bid to finally claim world honours, with both Benn and now Stevenson waiting in the wings to secure a potential title shot against Garcia later in the year.
Although, from Garcia’s perspective, the Briton will likely be the preferred opponent, with Stevenson keen to insert a rehydration clause into the contract of any future welterweight bouts and Benn still relatively unproven at the world level.
