By Adam Baskin: Shakur Stevenson says he wants to fight Vasyl Lomachenko next while he’s fresh off his performance against Devin Haney.
Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs) is one of many people who had Lomachenko defeating Haney last weekend, and he was impressed with how he fought the unbeaten undisputed lightweight champion.
Stevenson says that if he can’t get Lomachenko for whatever reason, he’d like to fight Jamaine Ortiz (16-1-1, 8 KOs) because he’s been talking a whole bunch of trash, and he wants to put him in his place.
Jamaine looked good in his fight with Lomachenko last year before fading late and losing by a narrow 12 round decision.
Ideally, Shakur would prefer to challenge Haney for his undisputed championship so that he can capture his four belts before he heads north to 140. Unfortunately, Haney hasn’t mentioned Shakur’s name for someone that he wants to fight next. It’s likely that Haney will vacate, and Shakur will fight for the WBC belt.
Shakur wants Lomachenko or Ortiz next
“Jamaine Ortiz talks real crazy. I would want to put him in his place. That’s what I would want to do,” said Shakur Stevenson to Fighthype. “But if I have the chance to fight Lomachenko next, he’s clearly not done. He’s clearly not an old washed-up fighter.
“I don’t want to wait another year. He turned 36 or 37. I don’t know how old he is. He turns old in another year. I’d rather not do that. I’d rather get him fresh while he just fought Dev, and he can fight me now so we can see, and I can show the world that I’m the truth.
“If he insists he needs one more fight in between that time, I would definitely be willing to smoke Jermaine Ortiz because I’m going to beat the f**k out of him. I’m going to beat him so bad. He doesn’t understand what he’s talking himself into.
“He just keeps talking, ‘Blah-blah-blah,’ and he shows up at my fight. He went on another interview, saying that he was going to be the first person that beat me. Truth be told, I would beat him. That wouldn’t even be fair. If he’s tough, he’ll stay in there for twelve. If not, he’s got to go.
Stevenson reacts to Gervonta’s coach call out
“He’s got some clout going on. He’s trying to get his clout up,” said Shakur about one of Gervonta Davis’ coaches, Ken Ellis talking about wanting to make a fight with him and Tank.
“When I heard that. It’s coming from someone with no power. He ain’t got no power to say, ‘This person fights this person.’ He’s not going to be in negotiations. None of that.
“He’s going to be the person that gives him water, wipes his face off with sweat. Whatever he do, that’s what he’s going to do, and then go talk s**t on live.
“The thing that I’m not understanding about it is more so that you got the coaches and dads. They’re all talking towards me. I don’t need or got nobody behind me. My team is a great team. I don’t have anybody speaking on every other fighter part of my team going around talking.
“It’s just me. Shakur speaking for himself because I don’t need that. Even when I went into the ring, I went there by myself. I don’t need no security guard or nobody with me.
“When I got in the ring, it was more so a me thing. I’m by myself. I don’t understand why the fighters can’t. It’s got to be cap because why aren’t the fighters [Gervonta Davis]? The fighters are more so the person that’s going to be a part of the negotiations with that team.
“With Devin, his dad is the business’s side. I can give him credit for that. His dad says a lot of stuff that don’t happen. He’s known for saying a whole bunch of stuff that don’t happen. He’s enjoying the media right now, getting every bit of clout for Devin.
“He’s being the mouthpiece for Team Devin Haney right now. That’s what it is. It just seems like all these people taking the role of being mouthpiece for their team instead of the fighters. When you’re talking to Shakur, you’re talking to Shakur.
“My name is ringing right now. It’s a great time to speak on my name. I will say this. Any fighter in the 135 lb division that wants to fight and really wants to fight me, I’m down. All you do is reach.
“Jay Prince is my manager, and we can get into negotiations and talk and get Top Rank involved. However they want to do it, because they try to make it seem like it’s real hard to make it happen, but it’s not that hard. All you got to do is reach out.
“This is facts. I never said no to no fights. I’ve never been offered a fight, and I said no,” said Shakur.
