After becoming WBO super-lightweight champion and being stripped of his lightweight belt, it seems as though Shakur Stevenson may stick around in the 140lb division.
Stevenson beat Teofimo Lopez concincingly in New York last weekend and despite calling out welterweight Conor Benn, he also had the option of returning to the lightweight scene in an attempt to become undisputed champion
However, the WBC have since made the sudden decision to strip Stevenson of their green and gold belt – a decision that did not go down well with the fighter himself.
As a result, Stevenson may now remain at super-lightweight and continue his WBO reign, particulary given the fact that he is only willing to take on welterweight contenders that agree to a 10-pound rehydration clause – a stipulation many not be willing to sign up for.
Speaking to Smitty Lewis, WBA super-lightweight world champion Gary Antuanne Russell explained that Stevenson’s fight with Lopez went exactly how he thought he would, before declaring that he is ‘belt chasing’ – opening the door to a clash with Stevenson.
“I already said how the fight was possibly going to go. I said that Shakur was going to put him on the ropes and keep him on the end of that stick. If Teofimo didn’t got the game plan, he was going to lose.
“If he didn’t come with the right game plan and the right mental, in the right shape, like how he fought [Vasyl] Lomachenko, he was going to lose.
“It was a 50/50, he got the ability to win, both of them is nice but styles make fights and I saw that Teofimo didn’t show up how he was supposed to.
“[I will fight any champion at 140lbs] and 140 is boomin’. I am straight belt chasin’.”
Before Russell can truly focus on unifications, he must first get past mandatory challenger Andy Hiraoka, whom he fights in two weeks’ time on the Mario Barrios vs Ryan Garcia undercard in Las Vegas.
