Shakur Stevenson took to social media to secretly take shots at Jaron “Boots” Ennis, saying he doesn’t need “no tuning” or he is “fighting to feel comfortable at the weight” to prepare him for a move up to 140 pounds to challenge Teofimo Lopez for the WBO title in early 2026.
(Source: Mark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing)
Shot towards “Boots”.
Stevenson (24-0, 11 KO), a native of Newark, Modern Jersey, wanted to brag to his followers about his bravery on Program X and chose to do so by hinting at the difference between himself and “Boots” Ennis. Bragging about taking on WBO 140-pound champion Teofimo in his first fight in the weight class, Stevenson ranks above Ennis in the bravery category.
Unlike Shakur, Ennis didn’t want to jump right into a risky 154-pound fight in his division debut, opting to fight fringe contender Uisma Lima last Saturday.
Ennis blew Lima out of the water, knocking him out 58 seconds into the first round at the Xfinity Mobile Arena in Philadelphia. Before the fight, “Boots” faced criticism from fans for taking on an unknown fighter in what was considered a mismatch to get his feet damp in the division before moving on to tougher opponents.
Fans wanted Ennis to immediately fight Vergil Ortiz Jr., Bakhram Murtazaliev or Sebastian Fundora in his first fight in the 154-pound weight class, rather than choosing a pliable opponent to strengthen.
“I’m going to beat a guy at 140, win the Ring Magazine belt and laugh at everyone who doubted 🦾 No tuning, no fighting to feel comfortable at your weight, only gigantic balls and gigantic dreams!!” Shakur Stevenson went on to say Xtalking about his fight with Teofimo Lopez in early 2026.
In early 2025, fans often criticized “Boots” for taking a cautious approach and turning down fights with Vergil Jr., Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney. These fights would boost his popularity more than his fight with WBA welterweight champion Eimantas Stanionis, which took place earlier this year on April 12.
Shakur (28) is a close friend of Terence Crawford, who is an older brother and mentor to him. He modeled much of his fighting style after Crawford, using moves the Nebraska native used during his long, 17-year career.
Crawford moved up from 147 to 154 and defeated WBA junior middleweight champion Israil Madrimov on May 3, 2024, via a narrow, 12-round unanimous decision. True, victory was very doubtful, but he showed courage to immediately enter into a challenging fight. The difference is that Crawford was 36 years antique and couldn’t afford the ponderous approach that Ennis was taking. It would get antique if he started tuning.
Nerve for “Shoes” lectures
Stevenson doesn’t say his resume has been completed since moving up to 135 pounds in 2023. He didn’t fight killers in the lightweight division, he chose to fight those fighters who could be beaten:
- Josh Padley
- Artem Harutyunyan
- Shuichiro Yoshino
There is talk of Ennis and Crawford fighting in 2026 if Turki Alalshikh gets involved. This is the biggest fight available to both fighters, considering Crawford has already rejected a fight with David Benavidez.
Shakur, subtly criticizing “Boots” Ennis with his “no tuning” comment, will not make things easier for 38-year-old Crawford if he agrees to fight him in 2026. If he can’t handle the juvenile lion, he will be torn to pieces.
Chris Williams is a senior writer for Boxing News 24covering sports since 2013 and reporting on major events around the world. His relationships range from established champions to hungry prospects vying for recognition. Over the years, Chris has worked with many of boxing’s top brass, earning respect for his insightful analysis and insider perspective.
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