By Dan Ambrose: Newly topped WBO tremendous featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson says he’s open to a battle with Vasily Lomachenko if he strikes right down to 130, however the match he needs is towards Oscar Valdez subsequent.
Shakur states that he heard that Lomachenko would keep light-weight and gained’t be returning to the 130-lb division, making it unimaginable for them to battle.
Stevenson (17-0, 9 KOs) needs to face WBC 130-lb champion Valdez (30-0, 23 KOs) in a unification battle subsequent, however he believes their mutual promoter Bob Arum of Prime Rank is “defending” Oscar from him.
It’s being talked about that Valdez might face Emanuel Navarrete (35-1, 29 KOs) in his subsequent battle, which might be an enormous one.
Oscar Valdez vs. Emanuel Navarrete = Big battle
It’s comprehensible why Arum would make Valdez vs. Navarrete as a result of it could arguably convey in additional vital numbers than a Valdez-Stevenson match. Additionally, it’s a extra winnable battle for Valdez than if he have been to face the defensive-minded Shakur.
Navarrete is an all-action sort of fighter, and he could be good for Valdez to go to warfare with.
It wouldn’t be a one-way battle like we noticed in Shakur’s final two contests towards WBO tremendous featherweight champion Jamel Herring final Saturday night time or his match earlier than that towards Jeremia Nakathilia final June.
Valdez will get hit again by Navarrete, and it’ll be thrilling to look at. In contrast to Miguel Berchelt, Navarrete gained’t be weight drained when he steps within the ring to tackle Oscar Valdez for his WBC tremendous featherweight title.
Lomachenko (15-2, 11 KOs) is preventing subsequent on December eleventh towards former IBF light-weight champion Richard Commey (30-3, 27 KOs) on ESPN. If Lomachenko wins that battle, it’ll be attention-grabbing to see if Arum matches him up towards Stevenson at 130.
Lomachenko needs to avenge his loss to Teofimo Lopez, however Teo and his dad need nothing to do with him.
If Arum needs to construct Stevenson right into a star in a rush, the right battle to assist velocity up the method is to match him towards the previous three-division world champion Lomachenko in early 2022.
It could be a sink or swim sort of match-up for Shakur in taking up the two-time Olympic gold medalist Lomachenko, but when he’s the subsequent Mayweather, as some boxing followers imagine him to be, he ought to beat Loma with no issues.
Stevenson prepared to battle Lomachneko
“Most undoubtedly,” mentioned Shakur when requested if he’d be prepared to battle Lomachenko subsequent. “However final time I heard him, he’s saying staying at 135.
“I’ve been calling his identify out a number of instances, and after I referred to as out Oscar Valdez on ESPN, I mentioned Lomachenko first.
“I’m down for a battle. I don’t duck no motion. I’m with every part. I’ve been within the ring with Lomachenko [sparring] earlier than. I’m down with that too,” mentioned Shakur.
Lomachenko ought to name Shakur’s bluff by agreeing to come back right down to 130 to problem him for his WBO title. If Lomachenko has no different choices for giant fights after he faces Commey in December, he can take advantage of cash and noise by taking up Stevenson subsequent.
It’ll be enjoyable to see if ‘Hello-Tech’ Lomachenko can work out a strategy to beat Shakur, because the extremely hyped 2016 Olympic silver medalist is trying tough to beat proper now.
Lomachenko could be going through a quicker and far youthful man in Stevenson, however he’s received the expertise to win if he’s not weight drained in coming again right down to 13o.
Shakur will possible return to his boring ‘pull-back’ fashion of preventing if he faces Lomachenko subsequent.
Towards the gradual, restricted Herring final Saturday, Stevenson stayed within the pocket and shortly picked him aside with pinpoint pictures all night time lengthy earlier than stopping him within the tenth spherical.
Lomachenko could be a distinct story, although, as a result of he’s too proficient for Shakur to remain within the pocket with the whole battle. Sadly, we’ll most likely see Stevenson use his regular hit & run pull-back fashion towards Lomachenko to keep away from getting hit.
When Shakur makes use of that fashion, he’s nearly unimaginable to hit as a result of he’s primarily fencing with a sword.
It’s extremely boring to look at Stevenson’s pull-back fashion of preventing however very efficient. Whether or not Lomachenko has sufficient youth left to defeat Shakur’s fencing fashion of battle is unclear.
Shakur: Arum is “defending” Oscar Valdez
“There isn’t any different battle,” mentioned Shakur when requested if there’s another battle at 130 that will curiosity him if he can’t get Oscar Valdez subsequent.
“I really feel like that’s the primary factor to do. I really feel like [Emanuel] Navarrete is a 126-pounder, and he’s received the [WBO] 126-pound belt.
“I’ve been calling for Valdez. I really feel like [Top Rank promoter] Bob [Arum] is defending Valdez if he isn’t going to try this.
“I’d undoubtedly try this,” mentioned Stevenson in expressing curiosity in going through Valdez subsequent.
It’s self-evident that Arum is defending Oscar Valdez with the way in which he’s matched him as a professional, however you’ll be able to’t blame him. Valdez is a money-maker, and it could be foolish for Arum to place him in with a fencer like Shakur to see him lose in a boring battle.
It could be silly for Arum to break Valdez’s money-making capability by placing him in with Stevenson as a result of it’s a style-match-up, and there’s no actual acquire.
Stevenson isn’t tremendous well-known, and his novice preventing fashion could be s unhealthy one for Valdez. There’s nothing for Arum to realize in placing an thrilling fighter like Valdez in with a man like Shakur.
