“Some fighters aren’t willing to get embarrassed in front of the world just for the check,” Shakur said.
He said fighters and their teams often weigh the competitive risk of a fight against the financial opportunity, especially when a loss could hurt a fighter’s standing in the sport. Even so, he said the right financial offer can still persuade some opponents to accept a fight they might otherwise avoid.
“If you put up a lot of money, I think it will be enough to get certain fighters in the ring,” Stevenson said, adding that he approaches his career differently and is willing to face anyone willing to sign a contract and step into the ring.
“If anyone has a problem with me, sign the contract, turn on the lights and come see me.”
The 27-year-old has been involved in some of the most visible fights of his career over the past year. Stevenson scored a decision win over William Zepeda last July before moving up to junior welterweight to face Teofimo Lopez at Madison Square Garden earlier this year. Stevenson defeated Lopez by unanimous decision to capture the WBO junior welterweight title and The Ring Championship, becoming a four-division world champion in the process.
After that win, Shakur was linked to several possible opponents, including Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, although none of those fights took place. Stevenson did not identify specific fighters when commenting during the podcast appearance and instead spoke at length about the factors that influence whether big fights come together.
During the interview, Shakur also talked about his plans outside the ring, saying he hopes to build successful business ventures once his boxing career ends. “I plan to make more money outside the ring than I do in the ring,” Stevenson said.
Even with those long-term plans in mind, Stevenson said competition remains the main motivation behind his career. “I enjoy competing,” Stevenson said. “I enjoy being better than the next person.”
