Mike Tyson has named the only fighter he gives a chance at defeating Shakur Stevenson, branding him a “force of nature”.
There are, indeed, very few fighters that would be given even a puncher’s chance against Stevenson, who many regard as one of the finest pound-for-pound technicians in boxing.
In 25 professional outings, the 28-year-old seems to have barely broken a sweat, often controlling the action behind a commanding lead hand.
This was perhaps most expertly displayed during his last fight, against Teofimo Lopez, when Stevenson became a four-division world champion after dropping just one round.
His unanimous decision victory in January has therefore led many to question whether he will ever be beaten, especially as he seems head and shoulders above the competition between lightweight and 140lbs.
One man who Tyson believes has the potential to defeat Stevenson, however, is Gervonta Davis, who was stripped of his world championship status at 135lbs earlier this year.
This was partly due to the American’s inactivity but also because of his arrest warrant, which was issued on charges of battery, false imprisonment and attempted kidnapping.
Instead of removing him from the lightweight picture, though, the WBA decided to make ‘Tank’ its ‘champion in recess’, affording him the opportunity to eventually reclaim his belt.
In any event, Tyson has told Fight Hub TV that, before Davis’ career was thrown into disrepute, he was convinced that the prolific knockout artist would have come closest to defeating Stevenson.
“He’s a great fighter. I don’t know if he’s as serious as he used to be but, when he was serious, he was a hell of a fighter that nobody came close [to beating].
“He’s the only one I gave a chance against Shakur. Tank is just a force of nature – you’ve just got to give him the credit. He’s the f**king man.”
Regardless of the controversy attached to Davis’ career, a showdown between him and Stevenson would certainly be welcomed by the boxing fraternity.
