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The undefeated lightweight reacted immediately after commentator Sean Zittel linked Stevenson’s fight to other recent fights that he described as disappointing.

“I was too dominant but to say it wasn’t a real masterpiece. WOW,” Stevenson wrote on X, adding a laughing emoji to emphasize the sarcasm.

Zittel previously posted:
“I think both Shakur-Teofimo and Inoue-Nakatani were disappointing fights. They’re both great fighters, but neither was a true masterpiece.”

“Crawford-Canelo, Shakur-Teofimo, Inoue-Nakatani, Usyk-Fury, Bivol-Beterbiev. None of those fights were great.”

Zittel picked up on the growing frustration. Looking ahead to 2026, the approach to fencing matches is becoming a firm sell, especially for blue-collar workers who are spending their hard-earned cash on PPV.

Shakur had the skills to dominate Teofimo Lopez last January, but by choosing to never step on the gas, he drew boos from the fans at MSG. He felt like he was more afraid of failure than interested in winning substantial.

Usyk vs. Fury/Bivol vs. Beterbiev were billed as historic clashes, but the hefty emphasis on playing it unthreatening and neutralizing power rather than engaging left a sour taste. When the biggest names in sports settle for making a narrow decision, it drains the energy from the room.

The sport is losing ground to high-intensity formats because top athletes are too worried about their “0” to take the risk. If you’re paying $70, you don’t want to watch a guy jab and move for 36 minutes; you want a fight.

In the US market, this style comes with a literal price tag. Ordinary fans want to see “blood, smashed faces and broken bones,” as Turki Alalshikh said last year, not a 12-round encounter on the track.

Naoya Inoue defended his undisputed super bantamweight world title at the Tokyo Dome, defeating Junto Nakatani via unanimous decision.

The fight – billed as the biggest in Japanese history – delivered both technical excellence and drama, but it was Inoue who further cemented his pound-for-pound credentials with a victory on the cards.

At the post-fight press conference, Nakatani did not excuse the defeat, instead praising his opponent.

“I was fully prepared for this fight with Inoue, so there were no massive surprises in the way he fought me. But he had championship caliber and I was impressed with his boxing style in the ring.”

The fight consisted of two halves – cautious at the beginning and brave at the end. It was Inoue who benefited from early work in the first rounds, with a edged jab and elite moves that allowed the rounds to get through.

When asked why he fought with this plan, Nakatani replied that he wanted to introduce modern tactics as the fight went on.

“Naoya is a pretty good student. He learns a lot in such a miniature time, so I didn’t want to reveal everything I had in the first rounds. That’s why I fought this way.”

Nakatani came on powerful in the second half, especially in rounds eight, nine and ten. In the tenth throw, the undisputed champion seemed to be in trouble due to his massive barriers, but a deep cut around the eye caused the eleventh to swing in Inoue’s favor.

However, it appears that the cut was not the only deciding factor, as Japanese media reported that Nakatani left the press conference to undergo tests at a hospital for a suspected orbital floor fracture, potentially caused by one of the powerful uppercuts he suffered overdue in the fight.

A crease under the eye, which is not uncommon in boxing, can require a long recovery, especially if surgery is necessary. If managed properly, a career can continue on the same path, as Inoue himself has seen suffer from similar injury against Nonito Donaire in

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Turki Alalshikh hinted at a possible return of Terence Crawford in 2027 in a social media post. The comment appeared alongside photos from the ring, which continued the discussion about a future fight around the former champion.

Turki used a clear caption to signal a sedate idea, posting ringside photos with Terence Crawford and hinting at a 2027 return, adding the line: “Maybe 2027 if he wastes his money.”

By suggesting a 2027 return under the guise that Crawford will have to spend his career earnings, Alalshikh uses his typical mix of humor and public pressure to keep the P4P star in the biggest possible matchups in the sport.

With the legend Terence Crawford… Maybe in 2027 😉 if he wastes his money 👺 pic.twitter.com/9ssjqo7D7U

— TURKI ALALSHIKH (@Turki_alalshikh) May 2, 2026

Turki has made no secret of his desire to see Crawford in a rematch with the Mexican superstar. While Crawford seemed content with his legacy, the lure of another massive payday in 2027 fits the timeline of a one-off spectacle rather than a return to a division where he will have to face younger fighters at 168 years senior.

The “2027” teaser is clearly based on the assumption that Canelo remains a viable option. Canelo vs. fight announcement Mbilli’s arrival in Riyad in September completely changes the situation.

If Canelo loses to WBC super middleweight champion Mbilla, Turki’s plan for a rematch with Crawford will become obsolete.

Alalshikh is counting on Canelo’s endurance to overcome Mbilla’s youth and high work rate. He will be relying on senior man strength to withstand a hungry first-class Mbilla. If this bet falls through in September, photos from Tokyo could be the last time Crawford and Alalshikh signal their approach to a mega fight with Canelo.

If Canelo thinks like a businessman, and he usually does, leaving Mbilli out makes sense. Why risk a $100+ million payday in 2027 against Crawford by getting carried away or potentially retained by a guy with a fraction of his name value?

Alvarez may present a rematch with Crawford as the only fight fans want to see. He can argue that he has already conquered the 168-pound division and that Mbilli’s WBC belt is just plastic compared to the P4P stakes in the rematch with Bud.