By Brian Webber: #6 Edwin De Los Santos (16-1, 14 KOs) is the next contender that could face #1 Shakur Stevenson for the vacant WBC lightweight title after Frank ‘The Ghost’ Martin backed out of the November 16th fight with Shakur for unknown reasons.
De Los Santos is far more dangerous than Stevenson’s originally scheduled opponent Martin, who is less aggressive and doesn’t pack the same kind of power.
With De Los Santos’ power, he could reduce the 26-year-old Stevenson to rubble if doesn’t run all night like he did in his fight against Jeremiah Nakathilia.
The hard-hitting southpaw De Los Santos will be offered the opportunity to fight Shakur (20-0, 10 KOs) for the vacant WBC 135-lb title.
De Los Santos looked lethal in his last two fights, destroying Jose ‘Rayo’ Valenzuela in three rounds and blanking Joseph Adorno in a one-sided ten round unanimous decision last July.
If the 23-year-old Dominican Republic native De Los Santos turns down the fight, the next up would be #7 Jamaine Ortiz in the WBC’s rankings.
It’s almost impossible to picture a scenario where De Los Santos would turn down the fight with Shakur, but if he does for any reason, Ortiz will be next up.
Martin turning down the fight shouldn’t be a cause for celebration Shakur’s promoters at Top Rank because this is a match that he needed to help increase his popularity to eventually turn him into a PPV attraction.
“The fact that so many fighters have turned down the challenge is a testament to his greatness,” Evan Korn of Top Rank said to ESPN. “It’s disappointing that the fans will be deprived of such a highly anticipated matchup.”
Top Rank shouldn’t spike the football and see this as a victory of some sort for Shakur because they need to turn him into a star at light speed. Shakur said recently that his contract with Top Rank ends next year, and he chose not to say if he’ll re-up for another hitch.
Obviously, losing out on a fight against Frank Martin can’t be viewed as a good thing if the ultimate goal is to turn Shakur into a household name and make sure he re-signs with the company next year.
Martin’s management wouldn’t have changed their minds in letting him take this fight if Stevenson was a popular fighter like Gervonta Davis because the money would have made it worthwhile.
Thus far, Shakur hasn’t fought enough big names and put in the kind of scintillating performances to turn him into a PPV attraction.
He’s been using that godawful Jared Anderson pull-back move his entire six-year career, as it’s not a crowd-pleasing style. If Shakur wants to become a star, he must stop running and focus on staying in the pocket more.
“Most ducked fighter in the sport of boxing. Edwin [De Los Santos], get ready; I’m tired of [you] saying my name,” said Shakur Stevenson on Instagram today.
