Shakur Stevenson is yet to announce an opponent for his Zuffa Boxing debut and one reigning world champion is claiming that he has been avoided by the WBO super-lightweight ruler.

Stevenson outclassed Teofimo Lopez to become a four-division world champion back in January, but the Newark southpaw hasn’t fought since, despite being linked to a host of names; including Devin Haney, Conor Benn, Raymond Muratalla and O’Shaquie Foster.

In fact, Foster was told by Stevenson that he could get his shot if able to defeat his good friend, Raymond Fordwhich he did back in May, prompting a post-fight face-off between he and Stevenson, only for talks to then go quiet.

In an interview with Fight Hub TVFoster explained why he believes the proposed battle makes Stevenson ‘nervous’.

“He don’t want to fight, we didn’t hear nothing, man. He don’t want me to end that gravy train that they got going on, he is going to take his chances somewhere else.

“For real though, Shakur saw me for a long time. Before me and him even started sparring, when we were staying together in Virginia, he saw me work. So, he know what I can do, he knows what I am capable of.

“Then on top of the sparring, Shakur has sparred everybody that he fought and everybody that he wants to fight, he got a beat on them.

“He couldn’t ever get a beat on me, so that is what I feel like it is, it makes him nervous.”

Instead, Foster – who holds the WBC super-featherweight world title – has now moved on to a fascinating three-belt super-featherweight world title unification against unified WBO and IBF 130lb champion, Emanuel Navarrete.

Continuing, Foster maintained that Stevenson will remain his target during the aftermath, potentially prioritising a clash with the pound-for-pound star over a possible undisputed title bout at super-featherweight.

“He came talking about, I need to get past Navarrete, he keep throwing everybody else’s name out there.

When I handle him [Navarrete] though, you come see me next.”

Navarrete-Foster will take place on Saturday, October 24, whilst the remaining super-featherweight title will be on the line when Anthony Cacace attempts to defend his WBA belt against Nick Ball on Saturday, December 19.

Stevenson, meanwhile, may well end up facing Raymond Muratalla, who recently vacated his lightweight title following previous talks of moving up to 140lbs to make the fight happen.

Tyson Fury has threatened to turn his attention to someone other than Anthony Joshua.

The saga surrounding the Fury and Joshua fight has been rumbling on for several months now.

The hold up, despite both men having signed contracts earlier this year, is a disagreement over where the fight should take place.

A proposed November 20 date is quickly approaching, so a resolution will have to be found very soon if it is to proceed, but it appears Fury is preparing a contingency plan.

Posting on social media‘The Gypsy King’ revealed that he won’t waste much longer on the Joshua clash, as he believes his long-term rival does not want to step through the ropes with him.

“One thing for sure is I won’t wait for a sausage who has been knocked spark out by Daniel Dubois for long.

“I’ve waited 10 years for this and I’ve been ready every single time. One thing I won’t be doing is wasting my later years at 38 year old with a freak who doesn’t want to fight.

“I will move on and there are plenty of world champions out there who do want to fight and do want to make some money so I’ll be giving them a knock. There are plenty of men.”

‘The Gypsy King’ then listed three current heavyweight champions that he would be willing to face it the ‘AJ’ fight does not materialise.

“Agit Kabayel, Hrgovic, Daniel Dubois, whoever else there is, they’re all very brave men and all looking for a few quid. Maybe I’ll give them a call and they can fight me in November as this is going nowhere.”

Kabayel was elevated to WBC champion after Oleksandr Usyk vacated his titles earlier this year, while Hrgovic defeated Moses Itauma on Saturday to win the vacant IBF crown.

Hrgovic now looks set for a mandatory defence against Frank Sanchez next, while Dubois overcame Fabio Wardley in May to win the WBO strap, with the pair set to rematch in October.

It means that Kabayel would be the likely option if Fury does decide to move on from the Joshua fight, but fans will remain hopeful that the issues over the location can soon finally be resolved so the two Brits can meet.

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, has said that there will be a resolution this week.

Though he has made it clear that their side wants the fight in the UK as per ‘AJ’s contract, Hearn has admitted that New York’s Madison Square Garden can happen if Saudi Arabia’s Sela sign an addendum.

Gardzielik was dropped and lost every round on all three scorecards. Nmomah offered limited resistance before being stopped in the ninth. Huerta went the distance but lost 100-90, 100-90, and 99-91. Those victories showed Mielnicki can dominate carefully selected opposition. They did not demonstrate that he is prepared for a championship fight.

Top Rank moved Mielnicki methodically by matching him against fighters with attractive records but little recognition in the United States. The approach helped him collect regional belts and climb the sanctioning-body rankings without facing anyone near the top of the middleweight class.

The more revealing performances came against Khalil El Harraz and Connor Coyle. Mielnicki edged El Harraz by majority decision and then struggled to a majority draw with Coyle. The New York State Athletic Commission later changed the Coyle result to a no-contest after he tested positive for performance-enhancing drugs, but the ruling did not erase what happened during those 10 rounds.

Mielnicki believes beating Williams would answer criticism of rankings that place him No. 3 with the WBO, No. 7 with the WBA and WBC, and No. 9 with the IBF.

“I feel like having a name like him on my resume will silence a lotta that,” Mielnicki told Keith Idec of The Ring.

Williams (20-2, 13 KOs) is a considerable upgrade. The physically strong southpaw applies pressure and can make Mielnicki fight while moving backward, an area that the trio was not equipped to test. Mielnicki must show that his footwork and inside game hold up when an opponent closes the distance and refuses to remain at his preferred pace.

Still, beating Williams would not establish Mielnicki as one of the best at 160. Hamzah Sheeraz stopped Williams, and Carlos Adames defeated him decisively over 12 rounds. Williams occupies the middle of the first tier: capable enough to expose a protected contender, but well below the elite.

That makes him an appropriate screening test. A Mielnicki loss in his New Jersey backyard would make his lofty rankings difficult to defend. A convincing win would earn him the opportunity to face the leading middleweights, not prove he is ready to beat them.