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Ward praises Shakur’s mental advantage, but opponents raise doubts

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Image: Andre Ward Sees Fear in Shakur Stevenson’s Fights. The Opponents Tell a Different Story

When this separation occurs and refuses to close, it can quickly erode self-confidence. Players really feel the moment when the effort stops bringing results. But Ward’s conclusions are faster than the evidence.

Technical illusion

In reaction to Stevenson’s victory over Teofimo Lopez, Ward portrayed the fight as another example of elite opposition realizing they had no answer from the first round. He went further to describe this effect as a mark of all-time perfection. The problem isn’t Stevenson’s description of his skills. The problem is the opponent chosen to support this claim.

“He’s a master of distance and reach, which means I’m in range to hit you, but you’re not in range to hit me. As a fighter, that’s terrifying,” Ward said to talkSport Boxing about Shakur.

When Lopez fought Stevenson, he was no longer an elite problem solver. His recent performance has already shown the limits of his approach. He fought to gain control of Sandor Martin. He was involved in awkward fights with Jamain Ortiz and George Kambosos Jr. He spent long periods against Arnold Barboza Jr, winning rounds without being intrusive. This was a player who held his career together through selection and narrow decisions.

So when Ward says Lopez had no answers, it makes even more uncomfortable reading because Lopez had been running out of answers for some time. Stevenson didn’t discover anything fresh. He came face to face with a player whose options were already thinning out.

This distinction is vital because Ward’s argument relies on repetition. He says Stevenson has done this many times. But when you look at Stevenson’s list of opponents, the same question keeps coming up. Where is the elite fighter who came in with depth, adaptability and a genuine edge and left mentally broken?

At lightweight, Stevenson avoided the most threatening ups and downs. The fights were pristine. The control was clear. The risk remained confined. As he moved closer to junior welterweight, the pattern tightened even more. The conversation quickly turned from the competition to paychecks. The pool of realistic opponents was narrowing rather than expanding.

What else is missing

In the welterweight division, the conditions became even more revealing. Stevenson insisted that rehydration clauses would be a requirement against naturally bigger names such as Conor Benn and Ryan Garcia. This is not a technical correction inside the ring. This is a check applied before the first bell.

This is where Ward’s narrative of fear begins to work against itself. If Stevenson truly drives elite opponents to desperation on skill alone, there would be no need to tighten the terms so aggressively. Psychological dominance should show itself most clearly when circumstances are least favorable. Instead, circumstances are shaped to remove danger in advance.

None of this denies Stevenson’s skill. His power over distance is real. His discipline is real. The players feel frustrated with him. It has not been proven whether this frustration is confused with fear and whether fear is used as a proxy explanation for the lack of significant risk.

Ward sees the signs of greatness. The record so far shows control, caution and leverage. Until Stevenson enters a fight where these protections are removed, the story of fear will be easier to tell than to test.

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Bob Arum wonders if Lomachenko needs money to pay back

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Image: Vasiliy Lomachenko Ends Retirement, Targets Big Fights

“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.

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The most talented Dubois still attends school

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Solomon Dubois trains in the gym as the youngest member of the Dubois boxing family begins attracting attention in amateur boxing

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.

Dubois syndrome

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.

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Boxing

Keyshawn Davis vs. Nahir Albright 2 Saturday night, live on DAZN

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Image: Keyshawn Davis vs Nahir Albright 2 Saturday Night, Live On DAZN

In October 2023, rising contender Keyshawn Davis entered the ring for an intense fight against Nahir Albright. In the first round of the fight, Albright used his feints and changed levels with his jab.

In the first round, Davis managed to land a well-timed right hand. Over the next few rounds, Keyshawn Davis established range and as a result, started landing his combinations.

Halfway through the 10-round fight, Davis was in complete control, consistently launching counterattacks. During the final three rounds of the fight, Albright found success in punching with his right hand.

Albright was competitive but didn’t seem to be doing enough to win rounds. At the conclusion of the 10-round contest, Davis was declared the winner by majority decision.

Two weeks later, Keyshawn Davis was confirmed to have tested positive for marijuana. Davis received a 90-day suspension and his majority victory over Nahir Albright was changed to a no-contest.

Following his match with Keyshawn Davis, Nahir Albright’s boxing career came to an end after a 19-month hiatus. In June 2025, Nahir Albright stepped back into the squared circle to face Keyshawn’s older brother, Kelvin Davis.

Albright was very aggressive as he hurt Davis in the second and fourth rounds. Albright set the pace of the fight and won a convincing victory.

After the fight ended, Keyshawn and his younger brother Keon jumped Albright backstage. According to Albright, the Davis brothers entered his locker room and Keyshawn headbutted him, leaving a lump on his right eye.

Following the incident, police escorted Keyshawn Davis from the arena. Davis was initially scheduled to headline the event, but he weighed 4.3 pounds over the legal weight limit and was stripped of his WBO world title.

After this embarrassing incident, Keyshawn Davis redeemed himself in January 2026 when he dominated Jamaine Ortiz. Now Davis is ready to take care of unfinished business on Saturday night.

Keyshawn “The Businessman” Davis didn’t look like a pro on Friday afternoon when he weighed in at 140.2 pounds. Davis stripped down to his bare essentials and weighed 140.1 pounds.

After his second failed attempt, Davis was given two hours to reach the 140-pound limit. A tiny time later, Davis returned to the scale and weighed 140 pounds.

Performance wise, Keyshawn Davis is a striking boxer who has poise, timing, a solid jab and a high ring IQ, is an elite counter puncher, has excellent punch placement and is deadly when landing body shots.

His opponent, Nahir Albright, has a quick jab, is elusive, has good footwork, uses head movement regularly, is tough and used to throwing a series of punches.

The grudge match will be held on Saturday evening, May 16, at the Scope Arena. Norfolk native Keyshawn Davis wants to make a statement to his hometown fans, but his opponent, Nahir Albright, plans to play the role of spoiler.

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