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Shakur Stevenson cannot get P4P #1 with Lopez, Roach

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Image: The Lopez - Stevenson Fight Is Dead in the Water: How Shakur's Dream Match Collapsed and What's Next

Shakur Stevenson published a mysterious message in social media, saying that he wants his “place”. It seems that he talks about 1 pound per pound or a more sublime goal of perceiving being the best warrior in sport. Theoretically, Shakur can find first place. But he will have to make many changes in these areas:

  1. Opposition: Shakur cannot become the first pound for a pound, fighting with Josh Padley, Arty Harutyunyan and William Zeda. He will have to take the risk and it is doubtful if he has tools for it.
  2. Win at the highest levels: This means beating predators at the age of 135, like Andy Cruz and Abdullah Mason.

Teofimo Lopez and Roach is not enough

Achieving one of them will be tough for Shakur (24-0, 11 KO) without voting on No. 1, without the need to prove that it is worthy of this place in an absolute sense. He would have to do something more than to defeat Teofimo Lopez and Lamont Roach to get the highest place in pounds for pounds. Currently, it takes 8th place on the pound list for a pound.

Why does Stevenson’s first style hurt

Shakura’s safety style does not resonate with random boxing fans or a wider American audience. The average fan wants to have fun, and Stevenson’s approach does not work with them. It is great in being busy, often publishing on X and pumping. But his combat style is seen as too archaic.

To get to number 1 without political kindness, because some would be liked by Stevenson, he would have to beat these talented featherlight:

  • Andy Cruz
  • Raymond Muratalla
  • Abdullah Mason
  • Floyd Schofield
  • Herrera Core
  • Sam Noakes

Considering that Shakur showed zero interest in the fight with such as Cruz, Mason, Herrera or Muratalla, it will be almost impossible to be raised to 1 pounds, and even more so considered to be the best warrior in sport.

Instead of Shakur, he freezes his featherlight belts to raise the payment against Teofimo at the age of 140, he should stay and defend against Andy Cruz. Olympic gold medalist 2020 Cruz defeated Shakur’s close friend Keyshawn Davis, four times with amateurs. Defeating Avenging Keyshawn should be a priority for Stevenson instead of focusing on money.

If Stevenson returned to a slight weight after the fight with the WBO Teofimo welterurize master at the beginning of 2026, he would have to focus on the above warriors. In the face of the Super Feather Wweight Lamont Roach, it is not enough to get a 1 pound for a pound or be perceived as the best warrior in boxing.

Nobody will take Shakur seriously if he defeats Teo and Roach, and then start trying to convince fans that he is the best warrior in sport. It would sound stupid and looked at the false, trying to cut the bends.

Stevenson’s CV is missing the elite opposition

Stevenson is already doing this, calling himself the best warrior in a featherlight division after defeating William Zepeda, Josh Padley and Artem Harutyunyan in his last three fights. This is not the peak of wood fighters in a featherlight.

In order for Stevenson to call himself the best at the age of 135 after defeating these fighters, he shows what his strategy is. He doesn’t try to fight risky guys, Andy Cruz, Mason or Muratalla. He heads for secondary fighters, and then tries to convince public opinion that he is the best without fighting them.

Can politics raise first place?

Even if Stevenson receives first place in a controversial political movement, he will not make fans perceive him as the best. To be perceived as the best by a wider audience, Shakur will have to face the best guys.

Last updated 29.09.2025

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Boxing

Gilberto Ramirez leaves with two fights left

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Image: Gilberto Ramirez Eyes Exit With Only Two Fights Left

“I think one or two more fights,” Ramirez told Fight Hub TV when asked about his long-term plans. “I have been practicing this sport for a long time.”

Ramirez, 33, said that while he still wants to continue his career for now, he is already thinking about how his career will end, not how long it can be extended. Ramirez said he has achieved key goals in the sport, including becoming world champion in two divisions, but still wants to perform at the highest level before he retires.

That pursuit begins with Benavidez, a fight that Ramirez believes will define his status and push his name further to the top of the sport.

“I will beat him. That’s my plan, to fight Opetaia,” said Gilberto about his desire to fight former IBF cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia.

It’s a shoot-for-the-stars plan for Ramirez, but you can’t blame him for wanting to fight Opetaia. The biggest obstacle is not only the fight itself, but also where Jai Opetaia currently sits. Jai is now the face of Dana White’s Zuffa Boxing.

At the same time, Ramirez hinted at one last twist before his retirement. When asked about moving up again, he left the door open to a possible heavyweight fight, even admitting that he may not be the biggest fighter in the division.

“Why not?” Ramirez talked about moving up to heavyweight. “That would be amazing.”

If Zurdo loses to Benavidez, his plan for Opetaia will likely evaporate and he may just go straight to the heavyweight event for one last payday before he suspends them.

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 fight to be canceled and replaced with world title fight

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Eddie Hearn expects Mayweather vs Pacquiao 2 to be cancelled and replaced by world title fight

The final decision may come after the Floyd Mayweather vs. Manny Pacquiao rematch drama ends.

Earlier this year, it was announced that Mayweather and Pacquiao were set to fight professionally more than 10 years after their first meeting, with the event streaming live on Netflix and taking place on September 19 at The Sphere in Las Vegas.

In recent weeks the duel was in doubt, after Mayweather stated that the fight would instead be an exhibition, while Pacquiao continues to insist that it must be a fully sanctioned fight.

Since it is currently unknown whether this will actually come to fruition, this has probably given the clearest signal that this will no longer happen.

Conversation with FightHypepromoter Eddie Hearn said he thinks Netflix can now focus on the WBC welterweight title fight between Ryan Garcia and Conor Benn, essentially replacing the Mayweather-Pacquiao event.

“It’s all a mess. I’m surprised Netflix got into this whole circus… Netflix is ​​modern to boxing, but they need to be a little more solid in the routine because you can’t actually call the fight and it just falls by the wayside and it just doesn’t look great.”

“NO [I don’t believe it will happen]not now. Netflix is ​​only going to do so many fights and the Benn-Garcia fight is now said to be on September 12 or whenever that happens, so obviously this is the fight to replace Mayweather-Pacquiao.

“If it happened Mayweather-Pacquiao, they are committed to that fight, but if it doesn’t happen they will want another fight and from the sound of it it will be Garcia vs. Benn.”

The world title fight between Garcia and Benn has been widely discussed this month, and if Hearn is right, it could spell the end of any hopes of Mayweather and Pacquiao fighting again.

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Junto Nakatani Banking size vs. Naoya Inoue

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Image: Junto Nakatani Banking On Size, Youth Against Naoya Inoue

“I think my size and youth should be a gigantic advantage. It gives me an even better chance to win,” Nakatani told The Ring.

Inoue’s reluctance to make the jump to 126 pounds at featherweight may be the most truthful admission of his physical limitations.

Inoue has fought fighters who hydrated to be hefty, but Nakatani is elevated. At 5’7″ or 5’8″, he has the skeletal leverage of a natural featherweight or super featherweight.

Most of Inoue’s opponents end up with confined time as they have to rush to hit him. Nakatani can theoretically sit outside and throw a punch without putting his chin in the red zone.

The numbers support this belief on paper. Nakatani will enter with a three-inch height advantage, a slight reach advantage and a five-year age difference. He also has natural size from climbing three weight classes, which he plans to exploit for the full distance rather than chasing an early finish.

“This fight will 100% be a war and I think I will win by decision once I overcome everything Inoue throws at me,” Nakatani said.

In his December victory over Sebastian Hernandez, Nakatani was forced into a fierce fight in which both men landed heavily, taking 273 punches in a back-and-forth fight that went the distance. He showed toughness, but also suggested he could get hit when exchanges open up.

It’s not that Inoue is afraid of fighting a bigger opponent, but more that he is a perfectionist who knows that when you lose your physical advantage, you have to rely completely on your endurance. Nakatani is the first fighter in a long time who can actually make Inoue look petite in the ring.

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