WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, claims they made a “seven-figure” offer to Raymond Muratalla, but he wanted $3 million to fight him on February 22nd.
So, instead of using the unbeaten #2 WBC-ranked Muratalla (22-0, 17 KOs), Hearn signed Floyd Schofield to face Shakur on the Riyadh Season card on February 22nd.
Muratalla Priced Himself Out
The boxing public is unhappy with the choice, feeling that the 22-year-old Schofield has no chance against Shakur. It’s another example of the New Jersey native, Stevenson, cherry-picking an opponent to avoid being beaten and keep his hopes alive for the mega-money payday against Gervonta Davis in 2025.
“We made a huge offer to Muratalla. He asked for $3 million [to fight Shakur Stevenson],” said Eddie Hearn to K.O. Artist Sports about Raymond Muratalla wanting $3M to fight WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson on February 22nd.
“People don’t see this. Muratalla, at Top Rank, asked for $3 million to fight Shakur. We made them a seven-figure offer, well over seven figures to fight him. No one wants to fight Shakur. That’s why I say to Floyd Schofield, well done. Go and become great.
“Shakur is our guy; I believe he wins, but listen. You’ve got a chance. That’s what it’s all about,” said Hearn,
Even if Muratalla did ask for $3 million for the fight with Shakur, the added PPV buys that a fight between them would generate would make it worthwhile. If His Excellency Turki Alalshikh was willing to pay that price to get a much better fighter for Shakur, the chances are that he would agree.
Danger Avoided
We don’t know if Hearn didn’t want Muratalla due to the risk that he would pose to Shakur. He’s a big puncher and accurate with his shots. Hearn badly wants to get through his next two fights without losing so he can get the massive fight against Gervonta Davis in 2025; it’s understandable why he would balk at the $3 million that Muratalla is asking for to fight Shakur.
If Hearn had asked His Excellency Turki Alalshik to use Muratalla for Shakur’s opponent on February 22nd, he likely would have said yes. He would be a BIG problem for Shakur, who can’t punch and looked scared out of his wits in his fight against the knockout artist Edwin De Los Santos last year in November. Hearn can’t afford to have Shakur lose or get booed out of the Riyadh Season event on February 22nd due to Stevenson running.
Muratalla could wreck Hearn’s dreams of a Tank-Shakur fight, which would defeat the whole purpose of Hearn signing Shakur in the first place. The three-fight contract that Shakur signed with Matchroom would be worthless because it wouldn’t include the Tank fight, which is the one that Hearn spoke about the moment he signed him.
Muratalla is a much better fighter than Floyd Schofield. He is more dangerous, and he would bring in a lot more PPV buys that would make it worthwhile to use him. Of course, not if the idea is to keep Shakur winning long enough for the Tank Davis mega-money fight. Schofield is the one that Hearn needs for that—an easy mark.