No matter how hard Shakur Stevenson tries, criticisms always find their way back to him. The lightweight champion has been calling out Gervonta Davis for some time. Remaining noncommittal to the engagement, the Baltimorean followed a standard contention questioning Stevenson’s resume. But given how the latest fight with Lamont Roach Jr. ended, Davis finds himself in a tough spot. A rematch with Roach Jr. could end speculations over his performance. But a fight with Stevenson could elevate his career to new heights before the purported retirement.
For Stevenson, though, the barrage of censures continues. It’s been over three years since Keith Thurman stepped into the ring. Putting an end to the long suspense, the former two-division title holder returns tomorrow with a ten-round headliner against Brock Jarvis in Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion. Dwelling on his journey and comeback with FightHype’s Jeff Zimmerman, Thurman delivered a blistering assessment of Stevenson’s record. It didn’t take much time before the critique caught Stevenson’s attention. But it wasn’t a response one would have expected either.
Shakur Stevenson’s level-headed reaction to a scathing review
“I’m a fan of Keith Thurman; ion take it personal,” Shakur Stevenson posted. He acknowledged Keith Thurman’s opinion without taking any offense. Drawing a parallel between their careers, Stevenson pointed out that both have faced struggles in getting opportunities in boxing.
I’m a fan of Keith Thurman ion take it personal he got a different view then me but we both know what it’s like to not get opportunities in the sport of boxing.. My time coming https://t.co/TakbrPiY71
— Shakur Stevenson (@ShakurStevenson) March 10, 2025
“But we both know what it’s like to not get opportunities in the sport of boxing…” said the Newark-born champion. Implying that he’ll prove himself soon, Shakur Stevenson remains optimistic: My time coming .”
Talking about the Lamont Roach fight, Zimmerman recalled the hype surrounding the Thurman-Errol Spence Jr. lineup. On similar lines, many fans want to see a Davis-Stevenson face-off. “If that fight still happens, how does that go? Does the shine go off Tank because of what happened against Lamont or the familiarity he had? Maybe it was closer than a lot of people even thought it would be. Give me a take on Shakur real quick,” asked Zimmerman.
The resume could use more high-profile victories
As if urging Shakur Stevenson to double up, Keith Thurman promptly responded, “I still think Shakur hasn’t beaten people like Tank. I mean, Shakur hasn’t even been in with Isaac Cruz. Come on, I really—I—I—I get it on some boxing-level stuff, but I really don’t get it, I don’t. Do something, bro.”
Implying that Stevenson hasn’t been tested against truly dangerous opponents, he questioned Stevenson’s experience in ‘the fire.’ Keith Thurman acknowledged Stevenson’s boxing ability. But he doesn’t see Stevenson as ‘the nicest’ or the best in the division. Stevenson needs to prove himself against opponents who can “drop bombs” and push him to the limit, Thurman suggested.
140827) — NANJING, Aug. 27, 2014 — Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of the United States of America reacts during the awarding ceremony of men s fly (52kg) of boxing at the Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing, east China s Jiangsu Province, Aug. 27, 2014. )(zc) (SP)YOG-CHINA-NANJING-BOXING ChenxCheng PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Nanjing Aug 27 2014 Gold medalist Shakur Stevenson of The United States of America reacts during The Awarding Ceremony of Men s Fly 52kg of Boxing AT The Nanjing 2014 Youth Olympic Games in Nanjing East China s Jiangsu Province Aug 27 2014 ZC SP China Nanjing Boxing PUBLICATIONxNOTxINxCHN
Contrasting his own situation against Errol Spence Jr., where he and Spence had accomplished enough to warrant the fight, Thurman added, “I don’t ever think about him and Tank. I don’t know what you guys do, and I don’t even really know why. I think it’s just some, like, some fantasy football. I don’t really think it’s real.”
“I don’t think he’s done a lot. I mean, just one good one on the resume. I would like two good names on the resume before stepping to Tank,” Thurman insisted.
Perhaps the frequent criticisms stem from the fact that barring a few well-known names such as Oscar Valdez or Robson Conceicao, Shakur Stevenson’s record barely displays an A-lister. With fights against Isaac Cruz and Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis, on the other hand, earned some serious bragging rights. Yes, Roach’s fight has dented his record, but it doesn’t diminish his pull as one of boxing’s biggest draws.
The shadow boxing over the Stevenson-Davis matchup continues. Uncertainty persists. Perhaps a win over a prominent contender may help Stevenson silence the naysayers and convince Team Davis to consider his offer?
What are your thoughts on Keith Thurman’s viewpoints? Does Shakur Stevenson’s resume genuinely lack depth?
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