WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) alerted his followers this week, reminding them he’s about to become a free agent, with his contract at Top Rank expiring.
It’s questionable whether Shakur possesses the marketability for there to be the stampede by promoters that he thinks there will be for his services.
The last thing that promoters need is a high-price fighter that angers fans due to Shakur’s defensive-minded performances.
Stevenson has the Mayweather-esque style, and this generation of fans has become spoiled by the more entertaining fighters like Canelo Alvarez, Gervonta Davis, and David Benavidez.
Shakur is using a fighting style now that is a relic from another era, and it’s not going to work with fans nowadays. Him and Devin Haney belong in the Mayweather era, but not this one.
Only 26, the former three-division world champion Shakur is expected to have a massive amount of interest from the other promotional companies to sign him once he’s a free agent.
Potential Suitors
- PBC
- Matchroom
- Golden Boy
- DAZN
- Saudi Arabia
- Top Rank
Shakur has been hinting at what Top Rank must do if they want to re-sign him by giving him the Vasily Lomachenko fight that he’s been asking for.
The 35-year-old Loma may not want to face a runner like Stevenson at this late stage of his career, as the last thing he would want is to have to chase the Newark, New Jersey native around the ring for 12 rounds, trying to land shots against the hit & run artist.
It’s unclear whether Top Rank can give the 2016 Olympic silver medalist what he’s asking for, as his last performance against Edwin De Los Santos left a bad taste in the mouths of many fighters, fans, and promoters.
The Booed Victory and Its Implications:
Shakur’s performance against Edwin De Los Santos last November was one that was loudly booed by the fans at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas.
Although Stevenson defeated De Los Santos by a twelve-round unanimous decision to capture the vacant WBC lightweight title, his overly cautious, safety-first style that he displayed caused the T-Mobile Arena crowd to boo him throughout the contest.
In hindsight, Top Rank miscalculated by staging Shakur’s fight in Las Vegas, as the fans in that city prefer fighters who are more entertaining. They should have staged the fight in New Jersey, where fans are more forgiving of Shakur’s fighting style.
Free Agent Season this year 👀👀
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) January 21, 2024