Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson are in a position to put two world titles and undefeated records on the line in an extremely intriguing match-up.
Fans, fighters and pundits alike want the fight to happen to examine Stevenson’s elite defence against Davis’ calculated and devastating finishing. That includes rising welterweight star Jalil Hackett, who has done rounds with both in the gym.
Speaking to Pro Boxing Fans, Hackett reflected on Stevenson’s last outing against Artem Harutyunyan – a routine if uneventful points win.
“He’s a very defensive fighter. He knows how to win I guess you could say, and it isn’t always the most entertaining. He went out there and got the job done. I feel like the past few fights he’s been catching a lot of slack because I guess the fights are boring. To the fans they may be boring, but to a boxing eye he’s winning.
We used to spar a lot … That was like when I was 14, 15. We haven’t sparred since then.”
Having sparred Stevenson and Davis, Hackett is in a good position to predict the fight all fans want to see. The question is could Shakur do what he does to a level that would evade ‘Tank’ for twelve rounds? For Hackett, the answer is no.
“I like Tank in the later rounds by knockout. Probably eight or nine … As Tank showed us in the last fight with Frank Martin, it only takes one. The fight was very good all the way till it wasn’t. He caught him and it was over.”
A unification bout between the two Americans is set to marinate for longer as Davis ramps up talks to face IBF Champion Vasiliy Lomachenko. Stevenson has expressed his interest in facing number one contender William Zepeda in the meantime.
Hackett returns to the ring this weekend in Philadelphia to face Peter Dobson.
