WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson says fans should tune in for his 22nd fight against Floyd Schofield in Riyadh to see “vintage Cur.“
What Shakur (22-0, 10 KOs) means by “vintage” stuff of his can be translated as code for him being on his bike, using his hit-and-don’t-hit style to a points decision win.
It would mean something if “vintage” Shakur was an exciting, fighting style that fans could look forward to, but he has NEVER been that kind of fighter.
Stevenson has had an ancient fossil Mayweather-esque fighting approach since turning pro from the Olympics. He is like a musician from the 1940s who has come through a time warp into the 21st century.
Can Shakur entertain?
For Stevenson, it’s important that he made it entertaining because this is Turki Alalshikh’s card, and there will be plenty of boxing fans ordering the contest, which will be shown live on DAZN.
If Shakur wants to lift some of the future shows instead of being buried on the undercard like he is with the February 22nd card, he needs to stay in the pocket and trade with the 22-year-old Schofield (18-0, 12 KOs) ). He needs to put his chin on the line to make it entertaining for the fans if he wants a higher spot on Turki’s future charts.
He wants fighters who entertain the fans, and Shakur doesn’t meet those standards, or at least not in the past. It’s not too late for Stevenson to turn over a new leaf and become a pocket fighter, but I don’t think he can. He has too much haste in him.
“Kind Austin is 22. Tommy Hearns fought Ray Leonard at 21 (correction: Thomas ‘Hitman’ Hearn first fought Sugar Ray Leonard on September 16, 1981 at 22 years, 10 months). I don’t get into that. Manny Pacquiao was a champion at 19 and Floyd Mayweather at 21,” said Stephen Edwards. Battle hype when asked if Floyd Schofield at 22 is too young to fight WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson.
“(Mike) Tyson was a champion at 20. Muhammad Ali at 22. Salvador Sanchez at 20. I can go down the list,” Edwards said. “Oscar De La Hoya and Felix Trinidad. I think he was a champion at 20. Even Canelo and Inoue. They are two of the better guys in this era. They won championships at 20 and 21 years old.”
Stephen is not saying that those fighters were much better than Schofield, and they looked outstanding before they won their first world titles. They didn’t struggle against lower level fighters like Schofield did. This is something that Edwards glosses over, with his mention of great fighters in the past who won world titles at an early age.
“Is it a tough fight? Yes. Will Shakur be an overwhelming favorite? Yes,” Edwards said on February 22 in the Stevenson vs. Schofield fight said. “Did Kid Austin struggle in his last fight (against Rene Tellez Giron)? Yes. I still give him (Kid Austin) credit for taking this fight. Sometimes you want to take these fights into your physical movie.
“Sometimes the youth overcomes a lot of things, and they look confident,” Edwards said of Schofield and his father, Floyd Sr. “Let them fight. I never say that. I never try to hold a guy back from wanting to fight. If you think you’re good enough, then go in there and fight. Do I think he’s going to win?
“I actually think Shakur is one of the better 10 to 12 fighters on the planet. Shakur is a special guy too. But tough, athletic guys tend to give smooth boxers tough fights. Shawn Porter gave everyone hard fights, and that’s who Kid Austin reminds me of the most. Tim Bradley is in the Hall of Fame. He was tough, athletic and gave everybody a hard fight,” Edwards said.
Is Shakur overrated?
Stevenson is not one of the best fighters on the planet, not even close. His style of fighting is not one of the best in boxing, and he is not entertaining to watch. He’s a defensive guy, and that’s it. To be one of the best fighters in the sport, you need to balance offense and defense.
Shakur is just defensive. He is 95% defense and 5% attack. His close win over Edwin De Los Santos last year showed that he is not one of the best fighters on the planet, because if he was, he would have dominated him instead of the T-Mobile that night in Las Vegas Arena to be booed. Edwards got it wrong.
Schofield’s previous chances to win have been by being aggressive, throwing power shots and putting constant pressure on Shakur in every round of the fight. He will have to be good at cutting off the ring because Stevenson will be constantly moving, as he always does, trying not to get hit.
Feb 22 belt 2 hole make sure you dial in Watch me beat on Kid Austin like he stole something… Vintage Kur back 🦾
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) December 24, 2024
