Shakur Stevenson Melts Down Over Tim Bradley Criticism

Shakur Stevenson answered Tim Bradley’s criticism with a stream of personal insults, but he never dealt with Bradley’s main point. A fight with Ryan Garcia is unlikely to get past the negotiating table if Shakur insists upon a 144-pound weight limit.

Bradley told Shakur to forget about chasing Ryan after watching him stop Conor Benn in the second round Saturday night in Las Vegas. Shakur, who worked the broadcast, had claimed a fight between them would be one of the biggest in boxing.

Instead of explaining how the match could actually be made, Shakur attacked Bradley’s fighting career and accused him of using his name for attention.

“I don’t know why you speak on fighters so loosely. When you talk, you should talk a lot different than the way that you talk, bro. You is booty, bro. I just don’t understand you. I don’t get you. You already admitted how great I am, bro. As soon as I say something back to your bitch ass, now you click-baiting all negativity on my name, bro. That’s why you is a bitch. You’re a clout demon. You do anything for clout, clicks, and likes,” said Shakur on social media.

Shakur also called Bradley “one of the worst fighters” ever inducted into the International Boxing Hall of Fame. That is a difficult position to defend. Bradley won titles in two divisions and fought Manny Pacquiao three times during a career spent facing top opposition.

More importantly, none of the abuse explains why Ryan should accept Shakur’s proposed handicap. Ryan is the bigger attraction by a considerable distance and has already rejected the idea of coming down to 144.

He learned what happens when he gives away too much control before the Gervonta Davis fight, accepting both a catchweight and a rehydration restriction. There is little reason for him to repeat that mistake for a less commercially valuable opponent.

Calling Bradley names will draw attention, but it will not bring Ryan to 144 pounds. If Shakur truly wants the fight, he may have to meet the WBC welterweight champion at the full 147-pound limit. Ideally, Shakur should first move up to welterweight and earn a title shot by beating Brian Norman Jr. or Richardson Hitchins.