Boxing
Shakur Stevenson is targeting a lucrative post-Lopez fight with Cruz
Published
3 months agoon
Shakur Stevenson made his position clear. He’s looking for the most lucrative fight available and believes Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz qualifies for the fight based on name recognition alone. This move says more about the direction Stevenson sees his career in than the competitive logic of the matchup itself.
Stevenson noted Cruz’s popularity among casual fans, arguing that some believe Cruz’s high-pressure style may bother him. In one breath he dismissed the fight as routine. This contradiction is the problem. If an opponent is advertised as perilous to sell a fight, but privately is treated as an uncomplicated job, the result is usually a fight based on hype rather than risk.
After winning a unanimous decision over Teofimo Lopez for the WBO 140-pound title, Stevenson’s bar changed. “Pitbull” Cruz doesn’t explain it. He tied for a 12-round majority with Lamont Roach Jr. in December. revealed the limits of “Pitbull” pressure. Once the aggression was contained, there was no second response. For an elite defensive technician like Shakur Stevenson, contained aggression leaves little to unravel.
The decision to stay in the north is no longer a choice, but an established reality. After the WBC announced its decision to strip Stevenson of his lightweight title last Wednesday, the bridge to the 135-pound weight class was burned, leaving him fully committed to the 140-pound division, where Cruz currently fights.
Time is critical. Stevenson has fully moved into the welterweight market, leaving behind his remaining leverage at 135 pounds and narrowing his focus to fights that financially justify the move.
Cruz has a recognizable nickname and a committed following, but recent results don’t suggest what kind of threat forces adaptation or risk.
Firstly, money, secondly, risk
Stevenson is stuck in a situation where high-profile opponents bring in money, but on a narrow basis, while perilous fights build a legacy with no guaranteed payday. Choosing an uncomplicated name may be a safe and sound business move, but it runs the risk of another warped master class that lacks any real sense of threat. Ultimately, fans are left wondering what the point was.
“It’s about who’s the most profitable,” Stevenson said Talking about cigars. “The most profitable guys are the guys I’m going to fight.” The honesty is refreshing. The direction it points is harder to defend.
Dan Ambrose was the main voice in Boxing News 24 known for years for its sensible approach to sport. You can love him or hate him. Dan has developed a mighty fan base for his sincere analysis, direct opinions and in-depth coverage of the global boxing scene.
His articles often spark discussions among fans because he is not afraid to challenge popular narratives or question players’ performances. In addition to opinions, Dan provides fight news, previews, and post-fight analysis that provide readers with both detail and perspective.
Click here to sign up for our FREE newsletter
Related boxing news:
Last update: 02/07/2026
You may like
Torrez said that he does not expect a weakened opponent when they meet at the Glory in Giza gala, headlined by Oleksandr Usyk and Rico Verhoeven.
“Yeah, I think it’s definitely in the back of my mind,” Torrez Jr. said. Mr. Verzace in Ring Magazine when asked about Sanchez’s knee problems. “But I’m going out there preparing for the best, Frank. I’m going out there preparing for Frank, who has two great knees. That’s the Frank I hope to expect because I want to fight the best. I don’t want to fight someone who’s 60% fit.”
“I think his team, doing their due diligence, wouldn’t let him get in the ring with me when he’s at 60% power, and that’s why they postponed the last fight. So I’m 100% ready for Frank Sanchez.”
Torrez also provided a technical breakdown of Sanchez’s style and said that pressure could be the key to breaking him over time.
“I think Frank, being of Cuban descent, has that Cuban style. He can kick his ass when he needs to,” Torrez Jr. said. about Sanchez. “I think he has a very robust backhand. I think he knows how to put you to sleep in the moment where he can hit the shot he wants.”
“But I think he lacks pace. If you’re able to take control of it and put pressure on him and impose your will on him, I think that’s where things start to basically break down in the game plan. I think we saw that with Kabayel.”
The 2024 Olympic silver medalist also revealed that his professional career almost never happened at all. Torrez admitted he believes he would have retired from boxing had he won gold instead of silver in Paris.
“If I won gold, I would retire. I wouldn’t box anymore. That would be it. I would feel like I achieved what I needed to achieve,” Torrez Jr. said.
“I feel that winning silver has given me the drive and determination to prove something not only to myself but to everyone who has sacrificed for me.”

Dan Ambrose is a boxing journalist at Boxing News 24, respected for his direct analysis and extensive coverage of the global fighting landscape. His reports focus on the most critical fights, division development and the most discussed stories in sports.
“Well, again, I don’t know what his financial situation is. He earned a lot of money from us. But, you know, he lives in Ukraine and there are a lot of problems there, maybe he needs money, or maybe he just wants to get away from home,” Arum said in an interview with Fighthype.
Arum’s comments drew attention because promoters rarely speculate publicly on whether a returning fighter might be financially motivated. Lomachenko hasn’t fought since stopping George Kambosos Jr. in May 2024. in the fight for the IBF lightweight title, and then left boxing.
The former three-division world champion is now 38 years venerable and has shown signs of decline in the later stages of his lightweight career. Losses to Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney, as well as a complex stretch at 135 pounds, have raised questions about how much Lomachenko has left in his long absence from the ring.
Arum admitted he doesn’t know what version of Lomachenko will return if the comeback continues.
“I don’t know what, if anything, Lomachenko has lost after his two-year retirement. So it would be wrong to hypothesize how he would fare against all these younger guys. We’ll just have to see,” Arum said.
The interviewer asked Arum if Lomachenko would still be able to compete with younger names like Shakur Stevenson, Abdullah Mason and Raymond Muratalla, but Arum avoided making predictions.
Despite the uncertainty surrounding the return, Arum continued to praise Lomachenko as one of the best fighters promoted by Top Rank during his career with the company.
“Loma represents the best of boxing. So I wish him all the best because he has been a great fighter for us and he truly embodies the best of boxing,” Arum said.

Robert Segal is a boxing reporter at Boxing News 24 with over a decade of experience covering fight news, previews and analysis. Known for his first-hand reporting and in-ring perspective, he delivers trustworthy coverage of champions, challengers and emerging talent from around the world.
The Dubois family has already produced two world champions. Now another name is starting to attract attention in British boxing.
Daniel Dubois and sister Caroline turned the family name into one of the most celebrated names in British boxing, but now a different Dubois is quietly emerging from the amateur ranks.
According to many, including Stanley’s father, Solomon Dubois may finally become the best of them all.
Another Dubois appears
The 13-year-old turned heads at national tournaments as he developed under the Dubois umbrella. Stanley, the man who helped shape Daniel and Caroline into world champions, is overseeing his second son’s progress.
Daniel himself has publicly endorsed Solomon to one day become a major force in the sport as the youngest member of the fighting family continues his rise.
This naturally creates expectations.
Over the years, a lot has been written and said about the Dubois family, but not all of it was positive. Family feuds, public disagreements, pressure and media attention have followed the name for much of Daniel and Caroline’s career.
Fresh chapter
However, in Solomon’s case, there is already a feeling that boxing could be the beginning of a fresh chapter.
As Daniel and Caroline gradually enter the final stages of their careers, Solomon is just beginning his own journey.
The pressure is already on, but he is following in the footsteps that will be able to impart significant knowledge.
When a family has already produced two world champions, expectations arise long before title fights or professional contracts emerge.
That’s what makes Solomon’s situation so fascinating, because the noise around him isn’t the result of random social media hype designed to produce the next substantial thing.
This belief clearly exists within the family itself.
Stanley has long suggested that Solomon may naturally possess an agility and raw ability that simply cannot be taught.
The pressure comes early
At the same time, there is an obvious danger in placing too much expectation on someone so newborn.
The history of boxing is full of prospects who faced pressure before they were physically and mentally ready to handle it.
For now, Solomon remains a student learning his craft with one of the most recognizable names in British boxing.
A professional move and a likely collaboration with Frank Warren will almost certainly come later if he continues to make progress.
However, at the moment it’s simply a matter of keeping his feet on the ground as the attention around him continues to grow.
Because if the Dubois family’s beliefs prove correct, British boxing may finally discover that the most talented Dubois was the youngest all along.
About the Author
Phil Jay is the editor-in-chief of World Boxing News (WBN) and a boxing veteran with over 15 years of experience. Read the full biography.
Boxing tonight: fight card, start times and how to watch Dave Allen vs. Filip Hrgovic
Richard Torrez Jr. preparing for “two good knees”
“THERE IS A REMATCH CLAUSE!” – Frank Warren CONFIRMS Dubois vs Wardley REMATCH POSSIBILITY
Pacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
Dmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
Stephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
“THERE IS A REMATCH CLAUSE!” – Frank Warren CONFIRMS Dubois vs Wardley REMATCH POSSIBILITY
Amir Khan WARNS Anthony Joshua That Comeback Opponent Could “FINISH” Tyson Fury Plans
Claressa Shields GOES NUCLEAR on Alycia Baumgardner & Shadasia Green: “B***hes Can’t Fight!”
Trending
-
Opinions & Features1 year agoPacquiao vs marquez competition: History of violence
-
MMA1 year agoDmitry Menshikov statement in the February fight
-
Results1 year agoStephen Fulton Jr. becomes world champion in two weight by means of a decision
-
Results1 year agoKeyshawn Davis Ko’s Berinchyk, when Xander Zayas moves to 21-0
-
Video1 year agoFrank Warren on Derek Chisora vs Otto Wallin – ‘I THOUGHT OTTO WOULD GIVE DEREK PROBLEMS!’
-
Analysis1 year agoRobert Garcia discusses the debate on the greatest Mexican warrior in history
-
Video1 year ago‘DEREK CHISORA RETIRE TONIGHT!’ – Anthony Yarde PLEADS for retirement after WALLIN
-
Results1 year agoLive: Catterall vs Barboza results and results card



