By Sam Volz: Shakur Stevenson and Vasyl Lomachenko ran into each other at the Top Rank gym last weekend and briefly conversed.
What was noticeable about the meeting between Stevenson and Lomachenko was the size difference between them. Shakur looked much bigger, like a fighter that should be competing at 140.
Standing side by side, Lomachenko appeared at least two divisions smaller than Stevenson, and it’s difficult to believe they are competing in the same weight class at 135.
If Lomachenko loses his fight against the four-belt lightweight champion Devin Haney two months from now on May 20th, he needs to consider returning to the 130 or preferably the 126-lb divisions because he’s too small to fight at 135.
Haney and Shakur would both have similar problems if they moved up to 147 and attempted to compete with the likes of Errol Spence Jr, Jaron Ennis, Terence Crawford, or Vergil Ortiz. They’d be undersized and underpowered for the weight class, just as Lomachenko is for the lightweight division.
Interestingly, when undefeated, highly ranked lightweight contender Stevenson (19-0, 9 KOs) asked the former three-division world champion Lomachenko (17-2, 11 KOs) when he was fighting next, he corrected him.
Perhaps nervous, the recently turned 35-year-old Lomachenko told Shakur that he’s fighting undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney on May 12th. Stevenson then corrected Loma, telling him he’s actually challenging Haney (29-0, 15 KOs) on May 20th.
Lomachenko says he thinks the fight with Haney will occur in Las Vegas. Haney has been trying to get the fight staged in Saudi Arabia, but it’s unclear if the Saudis will stage it there.
It’s not a huge level fight that the Saudis typically stage in their country like the one that took place a week ago between the popular Youtuber Jake Paul and Tommy Fury.
“I think in Vegas,” said Vasyl Lomachenko to Thaboxingvoice when asked where he’s fighting next against undisputed lightweight champion Devin Haney.
“It’s not secret that any weight class I go to, I’m a championship-level fighter, so I go for all the belts. Any belts that are available for me to try and get a shot at a world champion, that’s what I’m going to do. That’s always the goal. It’s always about legacy to me,” said Shakur Stevenson to Thaboxingvoice.
“After his fight with Lomachenko, if he’s willing to stay and I get a shortcut,” continued Shakur. “I know Devin Haney is a tough opponent; I’m not taking anything away from Devin. I feel like me, and him were bound to fight and meant to fight. Whether it’s right now or later, we’re meant to get in the ring.
“We’re two thoroughbreds and top-level fighters. When the time is right, we’re going to pop it up. This is boxing; he’s [Haney] a champion. I moved up to 135, and I’m coming for the belts. I’m not coming to play around with nobody.
“I would love to be undisputed. He’s the top guy; he’s the #1 guy at 135. Why would I get there, and we’re both signed with Top Rank? Why would I get here and ‘They’re forced to fight.’ Nah. I hear it, but there’s nothing wrong with it,” said Stevenson about wanting to fight Haney.
“We’re two top-level fighters, and we’re both signed with Top Rank. As long as they’re paying us money, let’s get it on. Let’s get it popping. As I said, Devin is a good fighter, I’m a great fighter, and I can’t wait to prove to the world how great I am.
“We can come right here to Vegas. I know he comes from Vegas. Vegas is a boxing city. I feel like I can have a lot of fans come out here and show out too. I would love to do it anywhere. We could go to New York, Vegas, anywhere you want to go. I would love to get right with Devin.
“If they’re paying more money. I know out of the country, they got more money,” said Haney when asked if he’d be interested in fighting Haney in Saudi Arabia. “If they want to pay us that money and give that money to fight each other, I’m down with that too,” said Shakur.