“I’d rather get a big check and go spend some money on a property or something,” Stevenson said. “Boards are cool. It’s good to put them in your office and put them up to look good for people who come to see them.”
The position is known. His mentor, Terence Crawford, took a similar stance during a dispute with the WBC after he failed to pay a sanctioning fee following his win over Canelo Alvarez. The belt became secondary. The dispute was about money.
Stevenson’s recent career choices follow the same logic. He put his WBC lightweight title on hold and moved up to 140 pounds to pursue a fight with Teofimo Lopez for the WBO belt. The upside there is clear. Bigger money. Greater exposure.
Staying at 135 would have meant defending against fighters like Andy Cruz or Jadier Herrera. Those battles involve danger. They offer little financial reward. Stevenson didn’t spell it out. His move said enough.
Asked about Lopez’s claim that he could land punches while blindfolded, Stevenson responded without humor.
“Depends on who I’m in front of,” he said. “There are some fighters out there with no defense.”
None of this is hidden. Stevenson is open about what he values ​​and how he works. When champions take this approach, commitments slip and contenders wait. The structure bends to leverage instead of order.
Stevenson does what the current structure allows. As long as the biggest checks come without mandatory risk, fighters will continue to make the same choice.
