It shouldn’t be this hard to get Shakur Stevenson another good fight

Shakur Stevenson is fifth on the ESPN Pound-for-Pound list and third for Ring Magazine’s. He hasn’t fought since Jan. 31, when he made easy work of Teófimo López in a unanimous decision at Madison Square Garden for the super lightweight WBO belt. A fight with Devin Haney doesn’t appear like it will happen anytime soon at welterweight, but hopefully both parties circle back in the future.

If they face off relatively soon while both are undefeated and outclassing opponents, it will easily be one of the biggest fights of the year, if not the top one because of their fame and prowess. Don’t forget that Haney told him, “I’m number one,” the night he defeated Vasiliy Lomachencko, becoming the undisputed lightweight champ in May 2023, when Stevenson was brought into the ring. 

Stevenson, who has only fought once at 140 pounds, is not comfortable going up to 147 yet. In fairness to him, neither is Keyshawn Davis, who has only boxed twice at super lightweight with wins over Jamaine Ortiz (TKO) and Nahir Albright. 

But action must be taken soon so all the good names don’t make commitments, leaving him further frustrated and waiting. Consider that Davis, who recently ducked Haney after going to purse bid, is off the table because of their close friendship. It’s understandable to be picky when someone is at his level, but Stevenson hasn’t earned the right to be Floyd Mayweather Jr., either.

He has shown no public interest in a fight with José “Rayo” Valenzuela (16-3), who recently knocked out Edwin De Los Santos (17-3) in two rounds on June 28 as payback for his first career defeat — a third-round KO — nearly four years ago.  Notably, Stevenson went to a unanimous decision against De Los Santos in November 2023. The reason “Rayo” doesn’t appeal to him is because he was beat by WBA titlist Gary Antuanne Russell in March 2025, but he is 2-0 since.

He also talked about moving back to lightweight for a potential fight against Lamont Roach Jr., but any chance of that fell apart thanks to William Zepeda defeating the D.C. native on Aug. 1. Stevenson has not called for a rematch with Zepeda, who he widely beat in July 2025, yet it was still highly entertaining.

Nor has expressed further interest in stepping into the ring with WBC junior lightweight champ, O’Shaquie Foster (25-3), at 135 pounds, despite the smaller man appearing to want it badly. Stevenson thinks he won’t get credit for beating him, but he was present in the ring moments after Foster’s victory over Raymond Ford on May 30, and both of them got into a heated verbal exchange, which included Stevenson calling him a “bum” and a “bitch.”

Perhaps there’s an option if the slick Gary Antuanne Russell doesn’t fight Oscar Duarte, which Dan Rafael of Fight Freaks Unite reported is being discussed. Or maybe the Englishman, Dalton Smith, who smoked Subriel Matías (TKO) in five rounds on Jan. 10 for the WBC strap, could make for a suitable opponent. 

At this point, Stevenson is on the verge of becoming a world-wide star as the potential next face of boxing, but it shouldn’t be this hard to get him a gig.

Quick Hits:

• Some guys in this era should fight each other six times as Sugar Ray Robinson and Jake LaMotta did. Of course, things can change in the meantime, but wouldn’t it be great between Ryan Garcia and Devin Haney, considering their seething rivalry? I’m not sure anyone believes Garcia saying it won’t happen. Additionally, Tyson Fury and Deontay Wilder are diminished forms of themselves, and I wouldn’t mind a fourth duel. 

• Tuesday is the 55th anniversary of Earnie Shavers starching Richard Pittman in round one in Paradise, Nevada. After that fight, the man who Muhammad Ali said hit him hardest, had a record of 29-2.