Shakur Stevenson’s ambitious three-fight plan for 2025 was mapped out today by his hopeful promoter, Eddie Hearn. The plan may need alterations due to WBA lightweight champion Gervonta Davis’s negative comments about fighting Shakur before retiring at the end of next year.
Tank’s negative reaction to where Stevenson’s name was brought up by the media recently was one of extreme dislike, and he looked like he was ready to explode. You didn’t need to be a body language expert to see that Gervonta wants nothing to do with Shakur.
Hearn’s Big Three
- Floyd Schofield
- William Zepeda
- Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis
Hearn said that if the Tank fight isn’t available for Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), then possibly a unification against WBO 135-lb champion Denys Berinchyk or IBF champ Vasily Lomachenko.
Those two are both longshots for Stevenson because Top Rank is saving Berinchyk (19-0, 9 KOs) for Keyshawn Davis, who they are maneuvering like a chess piece, trying to turn him into a star without him getting beaten along the way. Lomachenko is expected to retire; if he doesn’t, he’s not likely to want to face Shakur and have to chase him around for 12 rounds.
“For me, Schofield, Zepeda, Tank, that’s the plan for 2025. I think Shakur against Tank is the best fight in boxing. It’s two unbeatable fighters,” said Eddie Hearn to Fight Hub TV, talking about his plans for WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson in 2025.
“Then you have to look at unifying. There’s [WBO lightweight champion Denys] Berinchyk. There’s the Lomachenko fight again,’ said Hearn when asked what he would do if he couldn’t get the Tank Davis fight for Stevenson in 2025.
“Shakur will probably move up [to 140] and try and become a four-division world champion at some point. First things first, Floyd Schofield on February 22nd,” said Hearn.
Will Tank Fight Shakur?
The only fighter on Hearn’s three-fighter hit list that he can count on Shakur fighting in 2025 is Floyd Schofield, who has already signed for the match. Again, Tank seemed VERY negative to the idea of fighting Shakur when his name was repeatedly brought up to him two weeks ago.
Gervonta also said that to consider fighting on one of His Excellency Turki Alalshikh’s cards, he would need to buy him three Ferraris.
“I agree with [Golden Boy Promotions boss] Oscar [De La Hoya] that it’s probably come a little bit too early for him, but let the kid chase greatness,” said Hearn about the 22-year-old inexperienced Floyd Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs), who has NEVER fought a top 15-ranked fighter during his four-year career.
Schofield is a complete novice with no experience whatsoever against world-class opposition. In his last fight against journeyman Rene Tellez Giron, he was dropped by him in the 11th round and took enormous punishment in their fight on November 2nd. That performance was beyond words bad.
Schofield’s Inexperience
“He’s [Schofield] a really good fighter, he’s getting a lot of money, and he’s getting a shot at greatness,” said Hearn. “If he were to beat Shakur Stevenson [it would be huge]. Shakur is coming off a hand injury, and Schofield is an underdog in the fight, but I respect it.
“By the way, if Schofield wins, he’s changed his life forever, but if he puts in a great performance, his stock goes through the roof, and he becomes a real name in the sport,” said Hearn.
Schofield wouldn’t be a bad opponent for Shakur if he had an additional four to five years of experience under this belt. If the fight were offered to Schofield at 27 or 28, you could say that he was ready or perhaps not.
By that point in Schofield’s career, he’ll likely have been beaten several times and wouldn’t even be considered. His problems against Rene Tellez Giron showed that he doesn’t belong in the same ring as ANY champion, and he should be ranked at rock bottom at 135.
“Sometimes, you have to weigh up,” said Hearn, arguing that it’s fine that the novice Schofield fight the more experienced former three-division world champion, Shakur. “Don’t be afraid to go into a fight as a big underdog if you think the fighter can compete and do well. It’s not always about winning. Sometimes, you got to let them go. I like the fight, and there’s going to be a lot of backwards and forwards.
“The Zepeda fight will be next in May. That’s another great fight,” said Hearn about what’s ahead of Shakur if he’s victorious against Schofield on February 22nd.
Hearn shouldn’t assume anything about William Zepeda because he’s ranked #1 by all four sanctioning bodies at 135. If Gervonta Davis decides he wants to fight Zepeda in 2025, he’s not saying no to that fight just so he can fight Shakur, who isn’t anywhere near as popular.
Of course, you can’t rule out His Excellency Turki Alalshikh if he makes it worthwhile for Zepeda to fight Stevenson. But other than that, Zepeda would jump at the chance to fight Tank if that match is offered to him.