Why does Shakur Stevenson keep changing his nicknames? The stories and meanings behind them

Athletes aren't born great. Their names reverberate through the stadiums because of their blend of talent, dexterity, and flair. History has shown that successful athletes often have nicknames that the public can truly identify with. Shakur StevensonThe current WBC lightweight champion will be defending his championship against the German boxer. Artem Harutyunyan July 6. To add to his already impressive reputation, the boxer changed his nickname.

Now, he believes his new nickname better describes him, and he wants to be known by it. It's worth noting that this is his third nickname change. Stevenson will fight Harutyunyan at the Prudential Center in his hometown of Newark. Ahead of his first title defense in 2024, let's take a look at the nicknames he's used so far.

Shakur Stevenson Changes Nickname – From 'Fearless' to 'Sugar'

The Newark native is the eldest of nine children and the only one to take up the sport of boxing, but he doesn't want his younger siblings to take part in the ruthless sport. He was named “Shakur” after the late rap star Shakur. Tupac ShakurBut in the world of boxing he was destined to be known by another name: Fearless.

During the formative years of his professional boxing career, he was considered to be both a boxing great and a fighter at the same time. Floyd Mayweather 2 Division Champion Andre WardBoth Mayweather and Ward were counter punchers and preferred to use defensive techniques. Stevenson also employs the same strategy, counter punching when necessary. This fearless attitude resonated with his personality at the time, which is why he was known as Fearless. However, he changed his nickname to “Sugar” in 2023.

Talking about his new nickname, “Sugar,” the boxer said: “It’s been a while since I’ve been in the sport.“It's just like it's going to come the right way. When it feels like it's coming the right way, it's going to happen. But it sounds cool and I like it.” Other fighters with the nickname include UFC bantamweight champion Sean O'Malley and boxing legend Shane Mosley. Stevenson gave himself the nickname Sugar because he thought it suited his personality well.

Shakur Stevenson reveals new nickname

The nickname game doesn't end with Sugar, there is one more name that this boxer has adopted. The 27-year-old boxer is undefeated and is undoubtedly a skilled fighter, but is yet to compete in a mega match against a top-class boxer. Gervonta Davis or Devin HaneyHe had been targeting these bouts for quite some time without success, and in February of this year, he shared an old sparring video of himself and introduced his new nickname to fans via Instagram.

In the video, the young Stevenson shows off his speed and quickness, finding the right openings to land punches. The Newark native posted the video and introduced his new nickname in the caption: “Introducing you all to a killer car. #GtfOutMyWay.” First it was Fearless, then Sugar, and now it's Killer Cars.

Meanwhile, the crowd didn't seem to be happy with his recent win against Edwin de los Santos. Despite the win, he was booed during and after the match due to his disappointing performance. Now he gets a chance to impress the fans and fight like a killer, befitting his new nickname. What do you think about his nickname? Let us know your thoughts in the comments section below.