Connect with us

Boxing

Foster waives bail 135, clearing the way for Shakur to Teofimo

Published

on

A shirtless Shakur Stevenson flexes both arms on stage during the official weigh-in for his fight against William Zepeda on July 11, 2025, with team members and officials watching behind him.

Shakur Stevenson tried to contain his joy after the report that his WBC mandatory title O’Shaquie Foster has decided to relinquish his interim world title to return to 130 pounds. What a nightmare that would be for Shakur.

Shakur’s hidden relief

This eliminates the thorn in Shakur’s heel as he no longer has to worry about defending against the highly skilled Foster. Tonight it was revealed that Foster (24-3, 12 KO) will vacate his newly won interim WBC lightweight title to return to super featherweight to retain the WBC belt.

Obligatory nightmare avoided

“Huh? 😂 Yes, catch me on January 31st, I’m ready to take over!!” Shakur Stevenson went on to say Xmoments after it was reported that O’Shaquie Foster had decided to vacate the interim WBC lightweight belt to return to 130 pounds.

It is still unlikely that Stevenson will return to 135 pounds to defend his WBC lightweight title. But having a title temporarily increases its cache and its marketability. So if he defeats Teofimo, he will be able to bask in the afterglow of being a two-division world champion for a tiny time before the WBC forces him to make a decision.

Holding either belt is risky to Shakur’s health because there are too many predators that will chase him. At this stage of his career, he simply cares about money and he admitted that yesterday at the press conference for the fight with Teofimo.

The millions that Shakur received from Turki Alalshikh in his last fight against William Zepeda turned him into a monster. He is preoccupied with accumulating more wealth. If he beats Lopez, we’ll next see him at 147, fighting one of these three:

  • Devin Haney
  • Ryan Garcia
  • Conor Benn

Turki’s “Great Fight” Promise

Turki already said at yesterday’s press conference that he has a “gigantic fight” ahead of him for the winner of the Stevenson vs. Lopez in the spring. This gigantic fight won’t be against any of the 140-pounders because none of them are marketable.

Stevenson will fight on January 31, 2026 in what was considered a career-high fight against WBO welterweight champion Teofimo Lopez on January 31, 2026. Shakur is chasing money like a vulture and sees Lopez as a defenseless guy he can beat.

Teofimo security vulnerabilities revealed

He openly says that he has been watching Teo for years and wants to fight him. This is classic behavior of birds of prey. He had noticed his weakness a long time ago. It’s not like Stevenson had to try demanding. Everyone saw Lopez limping from his loss to George Kambosos Jr. in 2021.

His two controversial wins over Sandor Martin and Jamain Ortiz reinforced the belief that he had weaknesses that could be exploited. Teofimo’s former promoters at Top Rank wisely chose not to pit him against top 140-pounders Gary Antuanne Russell, Richardson Hitchins and Subriel Matias.

Last update: 12/11/2025

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Boxing

David Haye Warns Agit Kabayel Could Pose Serious Challenge to Daniel Dubois

Published

on

"David Haye Warns Agit Kabayel Could Pose Serious Challenge to Daniel Dubois"

David Haye believes Agit Kabayel’s movement and body punching could punish Daniel Dubois for loading up on his shots. The approach that overwhelmed Fabio Wardley could leave Dubois working much harder against the unbeaten German.

Dubois’s second-round stoppage of Wardley showed how destructive he can be against an opponent whose attacks he can anticipate. Kabayel would offer a different test, making him change direction and create fresh openings rather than repeatedly finding the same target.

Haye praised Dubois’s physical qualities but argued that he could benefit from using smaller punches to set up his power shots.

“He’s an absolute machine. Everything is the perfect size heavyweight. He takes a dig. He’s a massive puncher,” Haye said to talkSPORT Boxing.

“I’d like to see him loosen up a little bit. Everything feels very forceful.”

Haye used Lennox Lewis as an example of a heavyweight who could open opponents up before committing to his biggest punches. Against Kabayel, he believes Dubois would need more than force.

“Against Kabayel, that style of just trying to force it won’t work,” Haye said. “He’s slippery, he turns angles, throws to the body.”

Wardley gave Dubois opportunities to land short, powerful counters. Kabayel’s movement could require Dubois to keep adjusting his feet while protecting his body. Loading up and missing would cost energy, particularly if Kabayel made him turn before he could punch again.

That makes the matchup a test of how Dubois creates opportunities when an opponent refuses to remain in front of him. His power could still change the fight, but reaching for a knockout would give Kabayel more chances to work.

Haye called Kabayel “the sleeper,” highlighting his willingness to face dangerous opponents without the promotional attention enjoyed by bigger names.

“He’s the one everyone’s avoided. He’s the one who’s had all these tough fights against unbeaten fighters when nobody else wanted it,” Haye said.

Haye still didn’t pick Kabayel to win. His argument was that Dubois would face a much tougher technical test. The power would remain a threat, but Kabayel could make him work a lot harder to deliver it.

Share this article

About the author

Boxing 24/7 Wire

Boxing247.com is an independent boxing news publication covering the sport since 2001. It provides original reporting, fight analysis, schedules, results, and informed coverage of major fighters and events worldwide, backed by more than 25 years of professional boxing journalism.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Joe Cordina Cleared of Assault Charges After Punching Incident: Former Boxing Champions Legal Victory

Published

on

"Joe Cordina Cleared of Assault Charges After Punching Incident: Former Boxing Champion's Legal Victory"

Former boxing world champion Joe Cordina has been cleared of assaulting a man he punched outside a petrol station.

The incident outside a garage in Pentwyn, Cardiff, in February led to the 34-year-old being denied entry to the US for a WBO lightweight title clash.

District Judge Charlotte Murphy found Cordina not guilty of assault by beating against Jamie O’Brien, 33, following a trial at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court.

She said she was “satisfied” Cordina believed it was necessary to use force to defend himself.

“I am further satisfied that a single, measured, controlled punch was proportionate in the circumstances,” she said.

“It is very easy to consider the defendant’s response by considering the CCTV in slow motion, however the defendant had a split second to consider his response to the shoulder barge.”

Cordina had been filling up his Land Rover before he approached O’Brien, who had been sitting on the pavement near the petrol station exit.

CCTV footage showed O’Brien pushing Cordina using his shoulder, before the two-time IBF super-featherweight champion punched him with sufficient force to knock him to the ground.

The pair continued to “remonstrate” with one another and exchange blows.

O’Brien, from Pentwyn, previously pleaded guilty to a charge of assault by beating.

Police began to investigate the incident after footage of the altercation was circulated online.

Continue Reading

Boxing

Lennox Lewis Comments on Anthony Joshuas Decision to Reunite with Ben Davison for Tyson Fury Fight

Published

on

"Lennox Lewis Comments on Anthony Joshua's Decision to Reunite with Ben Davison for Tyson Fury Fight"

Anthony Joshua is preparing for his long-awaited showdown with Tyson Fury and will have Ben Davison by his side after reuniting to his former trainer.

When asked on his thoughts, Lennox Lewis gave an honest verdict on AJ’s decision to team up with Davison once again.

Davison trained Fury for five professional bouts after ‘The Gypsy King’ made his comeback in 2018, including in an iconic draw with Deontay Wilder which many felt Fury had done enough to win.

Since then, Davison was surprisingly appointed as Joshua’s trainer for what turned out to be another five-fight run, with a damning IBF title defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024 encouraging ‘AJ’ to make the switch to Team Usyk, where Iegor Golub acted as his cornerman.

Now, after being re-appointed as Joshua’s trainer, Davison is hoping to shake off his unwanted record of zero wins in five career heavyweight world title bouts as a trainer, with three of those losses coming this year when being in the corner for Fabio Wardley and Moses Itauma.

Speaking with Playbook BoxingLennox Lewis said Davison ‘is a good choice’ for Joshua, as he attempts to overcome Fury and capture the vacant WBA (Super) heavyweight title to become a three-time heavyweight world champion.

“I think that it is a good choice because Ben Davison has trained Tyson Fury for a little bit. He also knows Anthony Joshua and he also is a good man in the corner for Anthony Joshua because of how he speaks, he gives you confidence and that is what Anthony Joshua needs.

“He needs a guy in there telling him some good stuff to make him react.”

Fury-Joshua will take place on Friday, December 11, at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, with details regarding the undercard expected imminently.

Continue Reading
Advertisement

OUR NEWSLETTER

Subscribe Us To Receive Our Latest News Directly In Your Inbox!

We don’t spam! Read our privacy policy for more info.

Trending