Too Technical Fighter — Shakur Stevenson

Argh, another power cut. Fan stopped. Just me this laptop battery dying slower than my hopes for a big Shakur fight and a steaming glass of cutting chai. You guys watching what I’m watching Shakur Stevenson man. The guy is a problem. Like he understands boxing on a level where it’s just… unfair. He’s what happens if someone actually paid attention in the “Defence 101” class and then decided to just be it. At 26 Already conquered three weight classes. Three! He’s supposed to be the main lightweight, right He should be clashing with Tank Davis. Or Loma. But no. We get… what we get.

➤ A Different Kind of Wizardry

This guy born 1997 named after Tupac Shakur. From Newark New York they say. My cousin’s kid is named after a Bollywood hero but Tupac That’s next level. His grandpa a boxing trainer got him into it early. And he wasn’t just watching Floyd nah. He was watching Andre Ward. You know that dude who left the sport undefeated brain intact. Ward was all about skills smarts. Shakur He took notes. Like watching a super spy in a movie always three moves ahead. My gym has this one kid thinks he’s Bruce Lee just flailing. Then there’s Shakur. Every move means something. Every attack. It’s like watching a chess grandmaster but with fists.

Remember Rio Olympics Nineteen years old kid goes to the adult Olympics. He just… floated. Dodged everything. His counter-punching were something else. He made it to the final. Fought this “Train” guy Robeisy Ramirez. Shakur he touched his punches right I swear he did. But the judges… man. Just like Floyd back in ’96 everyone screaming robbery. Floyd saw it too that diamond not yet cut. That’s why he signed him up.

Then April 2017. Pro debut. Half-weight division. Bang! Instantly top. Second round uncounted knockdown. The guy he fought he just hugged! Couldn’t do anything else. Next fight his mom sitting ringside so Shakur he’s just stamping cast-iron lefts on the floor. Twenty-year-old prodigy. Doesn’t get touched. He keeps distance like it’s a personal bubble a force field. His footwork Like a Bharatnatyam dancer but deadly. Every step every pivot makes sense. He hits the body man. He just takes away your will to fight. My local gym these guys they just wing haymakers. Shakur’s got laser precision. Connects with that front hand and the earth just… shakes.

➤ The Valdez Masterclass (Still Shaking My Head)

Oscar Valdez. Mexican knockout artist. Two division champ. Funeral left hook they said. April 30 2022. Valdez had 30 wins no defeats. Packed arena. And Shakur He just came in there like “Nah.” Series after series. Attacks from the right. Loads the body with force. Defense Impregnable. He was diagnosing Valdez. Just poking probing finding the weak spots. Valdez was tough landed some rights. But he never ever got the initiative. Shakur’s combinations even in the last rounds still had fire. He won that fight not just the WBC belt but the *heart* of his girlfriend they said. My wife she just wants me to buy groceries.

➤ Why Are They Scared, Yaar?

After that he’s got to move up right Lightweight. He’s sparring with champions there. But you know what Those champions They ain’t in a hurry. They are like “Nah Shakur you stay over there.” So he fights this Japanese guy Shuichiro Yoshino. Six rounds. Boom! Victory. Makes him WBC contender. But guess what David Haney moves up so the belt is vacant. And who do they give Shakur Some dude named Edwin De Los Santos. Never heard of him! Even hardcore fans hear were scratching their heads. The fight was… boring. They teased each other more than boxing. Nineteen punches landed by Shakur. Fourteen by Santos. My God. My nephew’s school fight was more exciting.

At 26 they compare him to Ray Leonard. To Floyd. He’s got that cat-like movement explosive flurries. Impenetrable defense. He can do everything in the ring. But Leonard fought the best. Shakur… he’s waiting. Tank Davis Loma they’re right there. In the same damn weight class. What are they waiting for Are they scared Are the promoters playing games We need that big confrontation man. Before another power cut. Before my chai gets cold.