Is Shakur Stevenson’s Praise For Risk-Taking In Boxing A Sham?

Shakur Stevenson praises Turki Alalshikh for encouraging fighters to take risks with their careers, saying that they can’t make money otherwise.

This is rich coming from Shakur, given that fans have criticized him for not taking risks during his career, choosing opponents like Josh Padley, Artem Harutyunyan, and Shuichiro Yoshino.

Stevenson’s Tank Davis Payday Goal

Fans believe the only reason Shakur moved up to 135 was to get a payday against Gervonta Davis. He’s nowhere near his level of popularity and has shown no desire to earn the fight against the popular star Tank by facing the killers to earn it.

Shakur has shown zero interest in taking risky fights against these talents:

• Andy Cruz
• Abdullah Mason
• Raymond Muratalla
• Jadier Herrera

Those are the four that Shakur should be forced to beat to get his golden payday against Tank Davis, given to him. Defeating William Zepeda isn’t nearly good enough.

“Turki is saving boxing. Scared money don’t make no money,” said Shakur to Fighthype.

Shakur has taken a cautious approach his entire career, choosing safer picks while avoiding the predators that would beat him. He looked timid against Edwin De Los Santos, his toughest career opponent, not engaging, throwing few punches, and moving nonstop. Shakur has fought no one good since that fight.

Stevenson’s Last 2 Opponents

– Josh Padley
– Artem Harutyunyan

The decision for Stevenson to face William Zepeda next on July 12th is viewed as a calculated one. Zepeda (33-0,27 KOs) is popular, and he looked vulnerable in his last two fights against Tevin Farmer. Many boxing fans believe Zepeda lost both fights.

Shakur’s Zepeda Test: No Running

Stevenson has been led to believe that if he defeats Zepeda, he’ll get the big payday fight against Tank Davis next. That could be right, assuming Turki chooses to finance it. However, Alalshikh’s statement about not wanting runners in his Riyadh Season events could affect  Stevenson if he turns in a scared, underwhelming performance against Zepeda.

For him to have any chance of Turki wanting to grant his wishes of delivering his golden Tank Davis payday for him, he’s got to stand in the pocket and beat Zepeda in the center of the ring on July 12th. Can Shakur do that? That’s a big no.

It’s physically impossible for him to defeat Zepeda at his own game without running all night, and turning in a boring performance like many of his others in the past