10 November 2023 , 13:00
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Shakur Stevenson has more riding on Las Vegas next Thursday than the vacant WBC lightweight title.
He is stepping up from super featherweight to challenge Edwin De Los Santos when the fight the public really wants to see is against Devin Haney. The 75/25 split offered by Haney, who is moving up to super lightweight instead to take on Regis Prograis, tells you how much he fancied the assignment.
It was an insult that screamed ‘I don’t want that fight’. Stevenson duly told him where to get off. Stevenson is a brilliant fighter but tends towards caution. He is not as guilty of that characteristic as Haney, but nevertheless, needs to inject some jeopardy into his repertoire to fulfil his undoubted potential.
I might be being too generous in putting Stevenson in the Terence Crawford bracket, yet he shares his skillset, a spiteful puncher equally at home at distance or inside. And like Crawford he is moving through the divisions, having won his first world title at featherweight.
Stevenson had Oscar Valdez over in the sixth on the way to a convincing points win in their super featherweight unification fight 18 months ago. I don’t know if we will ever see another fighter with Sugar Ray Leonard’s combination of natural ability, drive and willingness to take a risk.
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Leonard could take your head off with speed and timing, or stand in the pocket and trade. I’ve yet to see Stevenson stand in the trenches. Floyd Mayweather Jnr was the same, reluctant to excite for fear of putting himself at risk.
As exceptional as he was, Mayweather did not take chances like Leonard, Marvin Hagler or Thomas Hearns, but that is the requirement if you want to be remembered. It's one thing being skilful another walking through fire to win. Those are the guys that go down in history.
Devin Haney takes on Regis Prograis in San Francisco this weekendIt’s a shame Stevenson and Haney didn’t get it on. Haney is not really to my taste, but I believe Stevenson has a special glow about him. But it needs a boost. His skill is sublime but that is not enough to be a superstar. You have to show guts, to take on all-comers and take people out.
This is a straightforward fight for him and will not move the needle. Hopefully it acts as a calling card to Haney.
Prograis is a tough kid, if not quite at Haney’s level. Haney would probably have to come back down to lightweight for Stephenson or meet at a catchweight if the money is right. And I’m not talking 75/25.
Follow Barry on Twitter at @ClonesCyclone @McGuigans_Gym