There is no shortage of fighters willing to take on Stevenson. Gary Antuanne Russell, Ernesto Mercado, Richardson Hitchins and Jadier Herrera have all expressed interest in fighting him, and these are credible, competitive matchups. What they lack is the kind of payday that Stevenson now prioritizes. As his focus shifted to money fights, his appetite for lower reward risks faded.
That pressure has only intensified since Stevenson’s Jan. 31 win over Teofimo Lopez. The performance cemented his reputation as one of the sport’s most complete fighters, but it didn’t open doors so much as close them. Stevenson looked dominant, controlled and expensive to deal with, which increased his market value while further reducing the willingness of competitors to rush to him.
Stevenson’s attention now appears to be on Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia, matches that offer exposure and money but are much harder to secure. When negotiations around those battles slow down, activity with them slows down. This is where the risk starts to grow.
From Stevenson’s perspective, the logic is understandable. At his level, high-risk, low-reward fights can undo years of positioning in a single night. Protecting leverage is part of modern career management. The danger is time. Inactivity erodes rhythm, relevance and connection with fans.
That pattern is familiar. Stevenson’s mentor, Terence Crawford, spent long periods waiting for the right opportunity, maintaining status while losing momentum along the way. Hearn’s quote was not wrong. Fighters respect Stevenson’s greatness. The problem is that respect alone hasn’t turned into movement, and the clock keeps moving whether a deal does or not.
