By Craig Page: Vasyl Lomachenko says he sees Shakur Stevenson as being a better fighter than undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney and WBA secondary 135-lb champ Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
The 2016 U.S Olympic silver medalist Shakur (19-0, 9 KOs) has never fought at lightweight, which makes it difficult for Lomachenko to compare him to Tank Davis (27-0, 25 KOs) and the undefeated four-belt champion Haney.
Despite Stevenson having never fought in the 135-lb weight class, Lomachenko feels that his skills set him apart from that of Tank Davis and Haney, both of which get hit a lot in their fights.
What’s troubling about the 27-year-old Gervonta is that he gets nailed easily, even by the lesser opposition that he’s been feasting on like Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero, Leo Santa Cruz, Isaac Cruz, and Yuriorkis Gamboa.
Haney appears to be physically done with the 135-lb division after campaigning in that weight class since he turned pro in 2015, and it’s hard to still view him as a true lightweight given how huge he is after he rehydrates.
If you look at Haney’s last two fights against George Kambosos, he looked like a fully rehydrated light welterweight rather than a lightweight.
I don’t know how Haney can make the 135-lb limit because he’s bigger than the average lightweight. Teofimo Lopez is another example of a fighter that achieved success at 135 through his size advantage over his opponents. Teofimo was essentially a 140-pounder competing against smaller guys in his last couple of years at lightweight.
“It’s a good question and an interesting question. I think we can only guess, and at the same time, I believe Shakur Stevenson is the boxer who has more chance,” Vasyl Lomachenko said to the DAZN Boxing Show when asked who he views as the best fighter between Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, Devin Haney, and Shakur Stevenson.
Without question, Stevenson is a better fighter than Tank or Haney and would likely beat both if they were to fight him.
“The reason I’m saying that is when you watch the fights of Davis, he takes a lot of punches; with Devin Haney, he got hurt [in his fight with Jorge Linares].
“Shakur Stevenson does not find himself in difficult situations like those fighters. It speaks about better defense,” said Lomachenko.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum wants to build Stevenson into the big start at lightweight, but he’ll need to be able to fight the best.