Shakur Stevenson has appeared nearly untouchable in his recent outings, but according to two-division world champion Tim Bradley, there is one fighter who could give him serious trouble.
Stevenson captured the WBO super-lightweight title and became the third-youngest four-division world champion in boxing history when he convincingly dethroned Teofimo Lopez in January. The win left him with options at 135lbs and 140lbs, while several welterweights, including Ryan Garcia, Conor Benn, and Devin Haney, have called for a jump to 147lbs. Stevenson has only agreed to such a move under strict conditions, either a rehydration clause or a catchweight.
Rumors of a potential showdown with Haney surfaced recently, and in an interview with FightHype, Bradley shared his view that the matchup favors Haney if it takes place at the welterweight limit.
“Right now, at 147lbs, I would give Devin the edge, but at 144lbs I would give it to Shakur. Devin understands Shakur, he knows how to handle him and what he must do. It will be a mix of boxing, smart pressure, and letting his hands go. I’ve watched their sparring sessions a hundred times, and Devin has some dog in him too. Shakur also has dog in him, but Shakur wouldn’t be able to be clever on the outside and beat him with just one hand—no way. So at 147lbs, right now, I would favour Devin.”
Both Haney and Stevenson have been linked to a potential move to Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing ahead of any proposed fight, though no contracts have been signed. Stevenson has told fans that reports of fight talks carry little truth.
