Shakur Stevenson's recent decision to stick to the lightweight division has sparked debate among boxing fans and experts alike. The 28-year-old's refusal to move up to welterweight has ruled out several lucrative fight options, leaving many wondering if he's missing out on a chance to prove himself against the best in the sport.
After a career-best performance against Teofimo Lopez, Stevenson solidified his place among the top five pound-for-pound boxers. However, his decision to stay at 140lbs has led some to question if he's avoiding a worthy challenge. But here's where it gets controversial: Stevenson has stated that he's not going up to 147lbs anytime soon, and he's not alone in this stance. His father and trainer, Henry Garcia, has also insisted that Stevenson must come up to 147lbs, but the boxer has firmly rejected this idea.
"I think [Garcia is] serious. I think he [does] want the fight. I just think that everything gotta work well in the business, everything gotta make sense," Stevenson said in an interview. "Before the [Barrios] fight, I heard them saying they’ll fight me at 144[lbs]. Then, after the fight, I’m hearing 147[lbs]. I’m not going up to 147 no time soon. I think that will be my last weight class that I’m in. I don’t think that, at 28 years old right now, I’m just going [to go] up to 147."
So, what does this mean for Stevenson's future? Well, it seems that he's committed to staying in the lightweight division, at least for now. This decision could potentially rule out a fight with Devin Haney, who has expressed that he feels 'a shell of himself' at weights lower. But it's also possible that Stevenson is simply choosing to focus on his current division, and that's where the real controversy lies. Do you think Stevenson is making the right choice by sticking to the lightweight division? Or is he missing out on a chance to prove himself against the best in the sport? Let us know in the comments!
