Bob Arum has seen everything there is to see in boxing, from Muhammad Ali to Manny Pacquiao and plenty in between.
The 92-year-old promoter has been in the business since 1966 and has worked with the likes of George Foreman, Marvin Hagler, Oscar De La Hoya and Sugar Ray Leonard.
More recently he has been particularly proud to promote Tyson Fury, Vasiliy Lomachenko and Shakur Stevenson – and it’s the 27-year-old from Newark he believes to be unbeatable in his current division.
Asked by Fight Hub TV about Stevenson’s potential WBA Lightweight World Title defence against number one contender William Zepeda early next year, Arum made his feelings clear.
“I don’t think Zepeda is anywhere near as good as Shakur. I think Shakur beats everybody at 135 that’s been mentioned. Maybe if Lomachenko keeps fighting, Loma would make a tremendous match-up with him, but other than that I don’t see anybody with the skills to face and beat Shakur.”
Stevenson is a three-division champion and a defensive master, according to CompuBox being the least hittable fighter in the sport today. He was promoted by Arum until just months ago when their contract ran out and he decided to look elsewhere, ultimately signing a three-fight deal with Eddie Hearn’s Matchroom.
He currently sits at the top table in the lightweight ranks having won the vacant WBC belt against Edwin De Los Santos and made a successful defence over Artem Harutyunyan. The southpaw was criticised for being less than entertaining in both bouts but promised fans he would provide more action as the levels of his opposition increased.
A hand injury suffered in sparring has put him on the sidelines for the rest of 2024 and saw a bout with former super-featherweight champ Joe Cordina cancelled. He has said a fight with Zepeda will take place in February after his recovery.
