Shakur Stevenson, WBC light-weight champion, says he desires a unification struggle towards IBF champ Vasily Lomachenko subsequent. He says he thinks Lomachenko (18-3, 12 KOs) is terrified of preventing him, and he’ll use nicknames for him by calling him “duck-chenko.”
Lomachenko is in negotiations with Gervonta Davis now, and that’s a giant struggle. There’s no cash in Loma preventing Shakur, who’s coming off a career-worst efficiency towards Edwin De Los Santos on November sixteenth final 12 months.
Shakur’s Taunts a Determined Plea for Recognition?
Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) is uninterested in being prevented by high fighters, so he taunts them to disgrace them into dealing with him.
It’s questionable whether or not it is going to work for Shakur, 27, as a result of he’s not well-liked, and there’s no cash in a struggle towards him to lure Lomachenko, Gervonta Davis, Devin Haney, or Teofimo Lopez.
“Lomachenko appeared good [against George Kambosos], however I nonetheless assume he’s scared to struggle me. Cease being scared, Lomachenko. I’m going to name you duck-Chenko or scary-Chenko till you struggle me, champ,” mentioned Shakur Stevenson to the media about desirous to struggle IBF light-weight champion Vasily Lomachenko in a unification. “I don’t desire a nickname. I desire a nickname after I whoop his a**.”
At this level in 36-year-old Lomachenko’s profession, he’s specializing in getting the best-paying fights towards entertaining fighters. Preventing Shakur wouldn’t make sense for Lomachenko now, and it may very well be a nasty one if the gang booed the shortage of motion.
Lomachenko would attempt to make it entertaining, however he’ll not be capable of chase Shakur down if he strikes as a lot as he did towards De Los Santos and a number of other of the hardest fights of his profession. Shakur strikes so much towards fighters with energy and expertise.
“We obtained to get any person to signal on the dotted line. If I can decide, it’s Lomachenko, or in the event that they [Gervonta Davis and Loma] go struggle one another, I say [William] Zepeda. Why does Zepeda hold saying my title and clout-chasing however then gained’t struggle me? I don’t assume he ought to get a cross for that both,” mentioned Shakur
Transferring Up in Weight or Settling for Lesser Opponents
The one method that Shakur can get the highest fighters to signal is that if his promoter overpays them by enormous quantities. That will must be Shakur’s subsequent promoter, who can be keen to lose cash on his fights. It may not be doable.
Promoters don’t like dropping cash, so Shakur could have to accept persevering with to face no-name opposition.
One fast repair can be for Shakur to maneuver up two weight courses to 147, the place he’ll have fighters like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis and Brian Norman Jr. who can be all in favour of preventing him. These guys hit so laborious that he’ll be damaged aside even when Shakur is as defensive as he was towards De Los Santos.
Shakur’s Give attention to “Hit and Don’t Get Hit” Worrisome
“That will be placing stress on myself,” mentioned Shakur when requested if he feels he has to carry out nicely on Saturday evening towards Artem Harutyunyan to be supplied a superb contract with one other promoter.
“I’m maintaining stress off myself. My principal focus goes in there, having enjoyable, having a superb time, placing on the kind of present that I wish to placed on, and displaying the artwork of boxing. That’s what my principal focus is. Hit and don’t get hit. That’s what I wish to do come Saturday evening,” mentioned Shakur.
The above remark by Stevenson reveals that angle hasn’t modified about specializing in his “hit-and-don’t-get-hit’ type, and that’s dangerous information for the promoter that indicators him. It seems Shakur is resistant to alter and can stubbornly stick together with his present preventing type till the tip of his profession.