By Chris Williams: Shakur Stevenson had words with WBC/WBO super bantamweight champion Stephen Fulton on social media, saying he’d be willing to give him an “opportunity” for a fight.
Fulton (20-0, 8 KOs) seemed to get Shakur riled up by saying that he’s got his eyes on the 126 and 130-lb division.
With Shakur having already run out of opponents at 130, his prospects for interesting fights are looking mighty bleak for him in that division.
The cupboard is bare for Shakur at 130, and it’s probably going to stay that way for a long, long time.
The fact that Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) is targeting a fighter two divisions below him in 122-pounder Stephen Fulton shows how empty of food the 130-lb division is.
Shakur showing shark-like behavior
Stevenson’s behavior reminds Chris Williams of a shark that has suddenly changed its hunting territory and is going after a different type of food because it’s starving.
The much smaller Fulton is prey that is out of Shakur’s hunting territory, but he’s going for him anyway, treating him like an appetizer.
Stevenson, 24, must have thought that his recent 10th round TKO win over WBO super featherweight champion Jamel Herring last October was going to open doors to getting him a lucrative indication fight with WBC 130-lb champion Oscar Valdez, but that’s not happening, and it probably won’t ever happen.
Fulton: “I’m on everybody’s a** this year from 122-130Lbs mark my words don’t ever disrespect me again! 122 in a headlock 26-30 right there though I see it.”
Stevenson wants to fight Fulton
Shakur: “Well, look, I’m glad you think that. I’m a champion at 130, who will love to give another champion an opportunity. Just let me know. I don’t mind at all.
“That 130 on clamps Brodie Locksh** finna be in a chokehold. I thought I was letting them get to me? Brodie, they make weight classes for a reason, plus you know what it is with me.”
Fulton: “Bro, and tbh[to be honest] idk [I don’t know] wassup with you nothing ain’t nobody putting hands on nobody over here bro that’s why I sent you my number at this point you feeding the media at this point when you took it to IG.”
Instead of Shakur picking on the smaller Fulton, what he needs to do is move up to 135 and take on Vasily Lomachenko, George Kambosos Jr., and Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Fighting those guys is a realistic move by Stevenson and one that boxing fans could relate to rather than seeing him prey on the smaller fighter Fulton.
If Stevenson stays at 130 to defend his newly won WBO super featherweight title, he’s going to discover sooner or later that it’s a dead-end for him.
Stevenson will slowly age and deteriorate at 130 without getting any opportunities for essential fights. That’s why Stevenson should dump his WBO 130-lb title and move up to 135 to broaden his horizons.