Tim Bradley believes the next phase of boxing stars will be shaped as much by visibility as by what happens in the ring. In his opinion, Shakur Stevenson is positioned to achieve a level of mainstream recognition that Terence “Bud” Crawford never fully achieved during his own elite run.
Bradley sees that outcome as unfortunate but inevitable. He is careful to emphasize that this is not a criticism of Crawford or his career. Crawford built his reputation on results, not self-promotion, and secured his place in boxing history on his own terms. The difference, Bradley argues, is not talent or performance, but approach.
For much of his rise, Crawford showed little interest in promoting himself. He stayed away from social media and rarely leaned in interviews. That choice didn’t affect his standing within the sport, but it limited his reach with casual fans and the wider public. Bradley credits that absence as a key reason why Crawford never fully crossed over into mainstream star territory.
Stevenson took the opposite route. He remains active on X and consistently makes himself available to the media. Even when critics argue that his messages rarely change, his constant presence keeps his name circulating. Bradley believes that visibility alone carries weight, even without natural charisma or refined delivery.
“I think Shakur has the ability, and that’s no shade on Terence,” Bradley said of his channel. “He will be remembered forever. Terence changed the game, and he did it his way. I think Shakur is going to do it his way, too.”
Bradley does not consider Stevenson to be a strong speaker in the traditional sense. He points to interviews that often revisit the same themes and lean heavily on confidence rather than insight. However, that limitation does not concern him.
“But I think he’s going to be a lot more popular, and a lot more respected than I think Terence Crawford is,” Bradley said. “It’s a shame, but it is what it is. I wouldn’t say he’s charismatic. He’s not Ali. He’s not going to have to do it with his mouth. Shakur becomes a superstar with his skill, and by beating those guys, you feel like he can’t be beat.”
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Last updated on 02/04/2026
