By Jim Calfa: Shakur Stevenson says he’d like to fight Vasyl Lomachenko in his first fight at lightweight. Lomachenko (16-2, 11 KOs) has other plans, wanting to take on the winner of the lightweight undisputed champion Devin Haney vs. George Kambosos Jr on October 16th.
The former three-division world champion Lomachenko is headlining next month against Jamaine Ortiz (16-0-1, 8 KOs) on October 29th on ESPN at Madison Square Garden in New York.
Top Rank is going to need to pick another opponent out for Stevenson’s debut at 135 because Lomachenko will be busy challenging the Haney-Kambosos II winner.
If Lomachenko wins, there’s always the possibility of Shakur challenging him for the four belts at 135. It would be a good idea for Stevenson to get a fight or to under his belt at lightweight before taking on Lomachenko because that’s going to be a tough fight.
Interestingly, Shakur is cool with the idea of fighting Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in his 135-lb debut. There aren’t too many other fighters at lightweight that compare to Cruz.
It’s not realistic for Stevenson to get a fight against Ryan Garcia or Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis because the promoters for those two fighters are ultra-careful about who they match them up with.
They’re not going to let Ryan and Tank Davis fight a crafty guy like Stevenson.
Other good options for Stevenson’s debut at 135:
- Joseph ‘Jojo’ Diaz
- Michel Rivera
- Jeremiah Nakathila
- Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero
- William Zepeda
- Brock Jarvis
- Denys Berinchyk
- Frank Martin
- Keyshawn Davis
“Lomachenko, I think me and Loma could be a big fight,” Shakur Stevenson said to the DAZN Boxing Show about his preference for his first fight at 135.
“Make it happen in the next one or two fights; I’m ready. It’s clear as day; their mind is already made up on that,” Shakur said.
“They know that I’m ready, they ain’t going to sugarcoat me, they ain’t going to take me on cakewalks, they know I’m ready.”
“I would [take the fight against Isaac Cruz], but it’s just going to let the fans know what they already know,” Shakur said when asked about his thoughts on fighting Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz in his first fight at lightweight.
“I’m just going to box his head off; he ain’t going to be able to do anything with me.
“Lomachenko wants those belts; his mind ain’t really focused on me,” Shakur added.
