Bob Arum targeting Shakur Stevenson vs. Miguel Berchelt for March or April 2022 ⋆ Boxing News 24
By Chris Williams: Bob Arum will make Shakur Stevenson earn his battle with Oscar Valdez by going through former WBC 130-lb champion Miguel Berchelt subsequent March or April.
Shakur has bitterly complained that Valdez, 29, is ducking him, however that’s not the case.
Valdez is preventing the blokes that Arum matches him in opposition to, and he hasn’t gotten round to placing him in with Stevenson, a newcomer to the 130-lb division.
Stevenson(17-0, 9 KOs) is pushing onerous to battle WBC tremendous featherweight champion Oscar Valdez subsequent after his victory over WBO champion Jamel Herring on October twenty third.
Arum has no issues letting Stevenson face Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) so long as he can get previous Berchelt (38-2, 34 KOs). Now isn’t the sort for Shakur to behave like a spoiled brat by insisting that he battle Valdez subsequent quite than incomes the chance by going through Berchelt first.
Valdez may also have to do his half earlier than going through Stevenson by defending his WBC tremendous featherweight title in opposition to Emanuel Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) subsequent.
As such, the winner of the Valdez vs. Navarrete and Herring vs. Berchelt fights will meet within the second half of 2022 in an enormous unification battle with the WBC & WBO 130-lb titles on the road.
Stevenson and Valdez might want to each log off on Arum’s thought earlier than it may well come to fruition, however it shouldn’t be an enormous deal as a result of these are nice fights.
If the 24-year-old Stevenson believes he’s nearly as good as he thinks he’s, he shouldn’t have an issue taking over Berchelt, 29, who’s coming off a tenth spherical knockout loss Oscar Valdez final February.
“I would like Valdez to battle Emanuel Navarrete and to match Shakur in opposition to perhaps Berchelt,” mentioned Bob Arum to Sky Sports. “We’d see how Shakur does with Berchelt; then we will match the winners.
“I believe that’s the best way to go, and that’s what we’ll counsel to them,” mentioned Arum.
“I hope to have Shakur again within the ring in March or April. Similar factor with Valdez and Navarrete.”
Hopefully, Shakur agrees to take the battle with Berchelt as a result of if he doesn’t, he in all probability gained’t get the prospect to battle Valdez. If Stevenson chooses to not earn the Valdez battle by taking over Berchelt, he may as properly transfer as much as light-weight as a result of there’s nothing for him at tremendous featherweight.
The one in style man in the complete 130-lb division is Oscar Valdez, and Arum has fast plans for him with the Navarrete battle.
“It’s one factor to be a expertise and one other factor to take that expertise and grow to be a crowd-pleasing fighter, and Shakur now understands that,” mentioned Arum.
Stevenson fought boringly in opposition to Jeremia Nakathilia and Joet Gonzalez; he won’t ever obtain superstardom if he doesn’t change the best way he fights.
He’s bought to be extra like Teofimo Lopez and fewer like Guillermo Rigondeaux if he needs to be the subsequent Floyd Mayweather Jr.
“Shakur, in contrast to his earlier performances, didn’t come out, win just a few rounds, then coast to victory,” mentioned Arum. “He got here out to beat his opponent decisively. I simply need him to be a famous person.”
