WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson boasted to his followers on social media today that Ryan Garcia will fight him next. Stevenson stays ahead of the game by counting the chickens before they hatch.
Ryan still has hurdles to jump…like Devin Haney
Ryan told Shakur that after his fight with Devin Haney on April 20th, he would fight if he doesn't get a rematch with Gervonta Davis at 140. That's assuming Ryan wins against Haney. A loss would send Kingley back to the rebuilding phase.
If Ryan loses that match, his career will be ruined with the Cup in hand, and it will be of no use to Shakur or anyone else.
Shakur suffered a 12-0 shutout loss to Haney and would look foolish to fight Ryan. Sure, the 26-year-old Stevenson is desperate to get a big name to fight him, but he's about to reach the bottom of the barrel in a fight with Ryan, where he lost badly.
Shakur Stevenson“Ryan says he'll fight me next. Let's keep his word.”
Ryan Garcia: “If I couldn’t get a Tank rematch at 140, I would.”
Shakur, aim above the scrap pile
Rather than trying to push for a fight with Ryan, where Shakur likely suffered another bad loss, the New Jersey native showed courage and decided to give Edwin de los Santos a rematch or, hopefully, a fight next time. He should fight Raymond Muratala or Andy Cruz.
Boxing fans already believe Stevenson is so scared of Muratala that he won't even mention Cruz's name other than to smother him with praise. The flattering compliments Shakur is giving Andy Cruz won't stop him from chasing his scalp if he chooses to stay at lightweight longer.
Stevenson has been a big disappointment since moving up to 135, and if he can't change the way he fights he will need to move up to 140 or 147, where it will be a sink-or-swim atmosphere.
The defensive style Shakur uses won't help him over 135. Because they can punch at 140 and 147 and sooner or later they will reach his jaw.
Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs) hasn't had a high-profile opponent since moving up to No. 135, but says he will keep his promise to Ryan (24-1, 20 KOs).
Stephenson will fight against an undetermined opponent on July 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey. Top Rank is expected to offer William Zepeda or Raymond Muratala next. Both would be a nightmare for Shakur and likely defeat him.
