Shakur Stevenson Eyes On Lomachenko, Avoids Gervonta Davis

The 10-0 unbeaten lightweight contender Shakur Stevenson has recently shown a much stronger appetite to face another former pound-for-pound chief, Vasily Lomachenko. For instance, Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs), before aiming at clinching a showboating fight against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis, seems ready to face Lomachenko. This shift has caused quite a stir in the boxing circles, and many people have seen it as signifying that the ‘going would be tough,’ so to say, as far as Davis was concerned.

The Way to Avoid Gervonta Davis

At 27, Shakur Stevenson is an emerging and rising force to reckon with in the lightweight division. Nonetheless, the change to concentrate on Lomachenko rather than Davis indicates the latter is not an easy task he is willing to face. The current reigning champion in the division, Gervonta Davis, who has a severe knockout multiplier, has become one of the most dangerous fighters in modern boxing.

Just one punch can end a fighter’s career and is enough to make them change their mind. In his case, the realization that Davis might be ‘all wrong’ for him at this stage of his career has forced him to enter a fight against Lomachenko, a decision that appears to be more tactical about retaining his unbeaten record and probably extending his boxing career.

All the fighters mentioned above are dangerous for the opponent, and Lomachenko is not an exception, but he poses a different type of threat. The 36-year-old hails from Ukraine and is an example of an amateur boxer who possesses great technical skills and great boxing brains. However, Lomachenko cannot hit like Davis, and as such, he is not as physically imposing a figure as Shakur Stevenson might have wanted to face in the ring.

Perhaps this is why Shakur Stevenson regards Lomachenko as an opponent he can easily dispatch since he lacks the power to take out the Ukrainian star inside the ring. He, on his part, prefers to use technical approaches to his fights, while Lomachenko would fit into this category since his fighting style does not involve receiving hard blows. By targeting Lomachenko, he likely aims to solidify his reputation as one of the best pure boxers in the sport while avoiding the risk of being overwhelmed by Davis’ power.

Potential Fight with Joe Cordina: A Dangerous Option

Current promoter Eddie Hearn has also disclosed that plans are afoot to make Shakur Stevenson fight former IBF super featherweight champion Joe Cordina. Cordina (17-1, 9 KOs) is not as popular as Davis or Lomachenko but is also dangerous in a different way. Cordina has exhibited one-punch power in his career; in his fight against Kenichi Ogawa in 2022, he knocked him out in the second round. While Cordina is coming off an eighth-round knockout loss to Anthony Cacace last May, his knockout power is still fearsome. So, even for him, a fight with Cordina is quite risky, especially if the Canadian connects with one of his strong right hooks.

Shakur Stevenson Strategic Decisions for Career Longevity

Shakur Stevenson’s decision to at one time change his focus from Davis to Lomachenko—and maybe to Cordina—clearly shows a smart way of handling his career. In this sense, the allure of fighting Davis would garner the most money and recognition on the flip side.

It appears to be a step too far because a loss exposes a fighter to the possibility of a career-ending knockout. In chasing Lomachenko and toying with the idea of fighting Cordina, Stevenson is set up to continue running his record while facing opponents who aren’t nearly as risky. This strategy could help him sustain his legacy without much risk, especially now that he is already middle-aged.