By Craig Daly: Shakur Stevenson is already making it known that he’ll face #10 WBA fringe contender Frank Martin in a “heartbeat” if given the opportunity.
It’s safe to say that Frank’s promoter Errol Spence Jr won’t allow the unbeaten former two-division world champion Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) anywhere near his fighter because he’s on another level talent-wise, and you can say the same thing about Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Will Errol allow Frank Martin to fight Shakur?
Spence will likely keep Martin under lock & key, safely tucked away from dangerous guys like Shakur and the other killers in the 135-lb division until he gets a cash-out against Tank Davis.
In a fight like that, even if Frank Martin is blown out of the water by Gervonta, the money will be so good that it won’t matter that he’s exposed.
I promise u I will fight dude in a heart beat good fighter nothing but respect I’m like that I promise y’all 👍🏾 https://t.co/kx8Bs6Qdo3
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) December 18, 2022
Martin (17-0, 12 KOs) has many casuals believing he’s the best thing since sliced bread after beating the unproven younger Michel Rivera (24-1, 14 KOs) last Saturday night at The Cosmopolitan of Las Vegas, Chelsea Ballroom, Las Vegas. The scores: were 120-107, 117-110, and 118-109.
The fight was a WBA light welterweight title eliminator, which means the 27-year-old Frank Martin will be moved up from the #10 spot to nearer the top in the World Boxing Association’s rankings.
Of course, that doesn’t mean anything if Martin can’t cut the mustard against talented contenders like Shakur (19-0, 9 KOs).
It would mean a lot if Spence were willing to let Martin fight Shakur Stevenson, but I don’t think that will happen. Spence has been careful with the way he’s matched Martin.
Martin’s last two opponents, Michel Martin and Jackson Marinez, were well-vetted and deemed a non-threat to beating him. If Spence were willing to take risks with Frank Martin’s career, he would have already matched him against these fighters:
- Shakur Stevenson
- Jamaine Ortiz
- Ryan Garcia
- Hector Luis Garcia
- Vasyl Lomachenko
- Isaac ‘Pitbull’ Cruz
- Jeremiah Nakathila
- Edwin Dos Santos
- Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero
- Regis Prograis
- Jose Ramirez
- Subriel Matias
- Teofimo Lopez
“Hopefully, it don’t,” said Frank Martin to the media when asked if his performance against Michel Rivera will make it difficult for him to get other top fighters to step up to the plate to face him.
“I’m right there now. There’s going to be some fights that happen. My ranking is going to change and jump up. I feel like I will get some shots.
“I beat a guy that everybody was a top threat. I did a shutout,” said Martin about his win over the 24-year-old Rivera.