Shakur Stevenson is no longer promoted by Bob Arum’s Top Rank as he looks to land the biggest fights around his division.
Stevenson was made a large offer from Arum to re-sign. The 27-year-old talked to a number of other promoters before deciding to pen a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom Boxing.
On the switch, Arum told Fight Hub TV that he wishes the lightweight champion nothing but the best for the future.
“Eddie used the Saudi money to sign Shakur. Shakur is a great fighter really a tremendous talent and I like him very much. We made a big offer to him which he turned down for whatever reason and I really wish him the best of luck, whether that’s with Eddie Hearn or with another promoter that doesn’t matter to me. Shakur is a tremendous tremendous talent and I want to see many more of his fights.”
After suffering a hand injury that ruled him out of an October fight against former super-featherweight champion Joe Cordina, Shakur is now expected to return in early 2025 and 135lb top ranked fighter William Zepeda is expected to be the man in the opposite corner.
Arum believes it will be an easy night’s work for his former charge.
“I don’t think Zepeda is anywhere near as good as Shakur.”
The lightweight fight fans have been calling for most is Shakur to face WBA champion Gervonta Davis.
However, again Arum can’t see ‘Tank’ getting the better of Shakur, in fact he thinks only Lomachenko can test the young American.
“I think Shakur beats everybody at 135 that’s been mentioned. Maybe if Lomachenko keeps fighting, Loma could make a tremendous matchup with him, but other than that I don’t see anybody with the skills to face and beat Shakur.”
