Gervonta Davis versus Shakur Stevenson could be one of the most competitive match-ups in the sport on paper, but Hall of Fame fighter James Toney does not see it that way.
Both lightweight champions, Davis and Stevenson present extremely different styles. The former is often content to give away rounds in order to stalk his prey before unleashing with fight-ending power. He has ended 28 of 30 contests inside the distance.
In the other corner, Stevenson rarely loses a minute in the ring, using his elite footwork and defence to cruise to victory. His style has been criticised in the past for being less than fan-friendly, but he assures fans that the right opponent will bring out the best in him. There’s no argument that that is ‘Tank’ Davis.
Speaking to Fight Hub TV, after ‘Tank’s last knockout win over Frank Martin, former three-weight world champion Toney was asked how Stevenson would fare against the big puncher from Baltimore. The answer? A knockout.
“Slept.”
Davis surprised boxing fans when he announced that he would retire at the end of 2025, meaning that, should he follow through, his WBA belt defence against Lamont Roach Jr on March 1 marks the beginning of the end. He has been relatively inactive in previous years, fighting once in 2020, twice in 2021, once in 2022 and twice in 2023.
It means that the Stevenson bout looks unlikely in the timeframe ‘Tank’ has set. The Newark native defends his WBC Lightweight World Title against Floyd Schofield on February 22 in Saudi Arabia.
