WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson’s search for a legacy-defining outing may be drawing to a close, as his online back-and-forth with a fellow champion revealed a tentative yet promising mention of a month. The Newark mover, 24-0 (11 KOs), was last seen defeating William Zepeda by unanimous decision in the Louis Armstrong Stadium.
Mexican buzzsaw Zepeda tried to push the pace but was met by sharp fists and snappy inside combinations from the champion, who refused to jump on his bike, meeting ferocious energy with speed and accuracy. Shakur’s next foe, if rumours are to be believed, will bring an entirely different skillset to the table.
Reigning WBO super-lightweight king Teofimo Lopez put out two pictures side-by-side on social media of him with Stevenson and Richardson Hitchins, respectively, along with the teasing fan question “Which one?”
While the followers made their choices known, Shakur stepped in with his own message of “U called me out lil dude, I told u im down” followed by an emoji calling for silence. Not to be outdone, Lopez fired back with this charming little nugget in the reply section.
If they were to meet, it would be an intriguing clash of styles and may involve a number of stand-off moments where both men wait for the other to lead off and make a fight of it.
One of the main points of interest is whether Lopez, 22-1 (13 KOs), can penetrate Stevenson’s defences and land on his chin. Lopez, for all of his misgivings, does have speed and power.
He would need to avoid being snakecharmed in the process if indeed Turki Alalshikh and the rest of the boxing power brokers can align their interests and get this January clash over the line as proposed.
