Boxing

Why Eddie Hearn is not in a hurry with Shakur Stevenson with Andy Cruz

Published

1 year ago

June 15, 2025

Image: Why Eddie Hearn Isn't Rushing to Match Shakur Stevenson with Andy Cruz

Promoter Eddie Hearn explained that when asked about the future great fight between Shakur Stevenson and Andym Cruz, he was not interested to do so. He promotes both warriors, but says that the WBC Lightweight Shakur champion (23-0, 11 KO) is a “guy” at the age of 135. Hearn states that “when Andy passes”, he is not sure if Stevenson will still be a “guy”. Comments suggest that Hearn is not interested in connecting them for a long time, if at all.

(Credit: Geoffrey Knott/Matchroom)

Saving Shakur on “tank”

Hearn signed Shakura with the intention of matching him to a huge fight with many money from Gervont Davis. Tank loss in Lamont Roach delayed these plans.

Hearn would throw Shakur to Wolves if he matched him to Andy Cruz, because he can do everything he could, but with much better offensive skills. Stevenson is only a defensive warrior. His ratio of a crime to defense is 10-90, which means that he focused only 10% on the offensive to win the fight, and 90% on defense in the form of moving to avoid blows.

“Andy’s plan is to win the title of the world and unify and win every lane in boxing,” said Eddie Hearn from Press conference after the fight When asked about the possibility that Andy Cruz will soon face Shakur Stevenson in a mega-wolf.

Cruz showed that he is the best warrior on a featherlight night, and in his previous fight against Omar Salcido. This is the guy Hearn on which he must focus, instead of banking at Shakur anywhere with his dated approach in the style of the 90s.

Zepeda threatens Shakura’s reign

There is a great chance that Shakur will be dethroned by William Zepeda next month in the fight on July 12 at Queens, Fresh York. Turki Alalshikh has already given his directive no more runners on their riyadh seasonal cards with a comment that they did not want to “fight Tom and Jerry.”

Shakur is the king of this kind of fights and the best runner in a featherlight division. This is not a compliment. If he decides to fight the way Turks wants his fighters in his events, remaining in his pocket, showing his heart, exchanging with Zepeda, he will probably lose.

Therefore, there will be no sense in Cruz Fighting Shakur. It would be yesterday’s news. It would also be the second fight with the two fighting contract Hearna of Shakur. He can simply let him go without trying to sign him again for a novel contract, because what is the sense?

“Runner” unveiled

“Now, There is no doubt, Shakur is a guy aged 135But Andy also wants to be a guy – said Hearn. “When she defeats Muratalla, you have Abdullah Mason in the face of Sam Noakes [for the vacant WBO lightweight title]And you have[mightoma135-lbshakurstevensonsonshakurszukisychtyktywki”[WBC135-LbchampionhakurstevensonsonsonislookingForallthosefights”[mistrzaWBC135-LBShakurStevensonShakurszukawszystkichtychwalk”[WBC135-lbchampionShakurStevensonShakurislookingforallthosefights”

Hearn does not have to be Shakur. He is not a “guy at the age of 135,” not even close. Stevenson is a classic runner from the 90s, a lending style that Mayweather accepted as aging. Andy Cruz is featherlight years before Shakur in terms of talent. There are at least five fighters in 135, which are better than Shakur. He does not know that now, because Stevenson has been carefully adapted to a supple opposition, because he moved to 2023, like Josh Padley and Artem Harutyunyan.

“He wants to know what will happen next, and I think Shakur would like to be able to fight masters at 135 pounds,” said Hearn. “Shakur knows boxing, and he also knows how good Andy Cruz is When does Andy go? Let’s find out. That’s what we want. The best versus the best. “

What does Hearn talk about with this “When Andy goes through”? Cruz is two years older than Shakur at the age of 29 and has better amateur references with the Golden Olympic medal compared to Shakur silver. Cruz’s amateur record is 140-9. Stevenson’s is 140-13. Cruz is now ready to fight the best fighters in featherlight. It does not have to be for almost five to seven years, just like fighters with a tiny amateur career and without Olympic experience. He was ready to fight such as Shakur, since he changed a professional in 2023.

“They are two generational talents. There are two great pounds for pounds,” said Hearn.

Last updated 12.06.2025

Boxing

Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshuas Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Usyk Analyzes Anthony Joshua's Performance Against Kristian Prenga After Overcoming Two Knockdowns"

Oleksandr Usyk has shared his reaction to Anthony Joshua‘s dramatic knockout victory against Kristian Prenga.

Usyk nearly suffered his own shock defeat in May when he was pushed to the limit by kickboxing star Rico Verhoevenand two months on it was nrw teammate Joshua’s turn to come close to a massive upset loss that would have stunned the heavyweight division.

The Brit was dropped twice by massive underdog Prenga in the opening round of their clash in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, but ‘AJ’ managed to recover and record a big knockdown of his own in the second round that resulted in the stoppage victory.

Joshua and Usyk now train together, having famously had two battles for the unified world heavyweight title in 2021 and 2022, and the Ukrainian has had his say on his stablemate’s victory over Prenga.

Speaking to TalkSporttwo-time undisputed champion Usyk praised Joshua, insisting ‘AJ is back’ before predicting that Joshua will now claim a knockout win over long-term rival Tyson Fury in his next bout.

“Anthony Joshua is next undisputed champion. First round it’s a test but AJ is back.

It’s boxing, [the] big upper cut is good, it’s a knockdown. AJ [come] back and win.

“Greedy Belly [Fury] will speak now and say weak chin, Greedy Belly get out. AJ wins [against Fury], [he will] knock him out.”

Fury was victorious on Friday as he earned a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach in Thailand, paving the way for the showdown against Joshua later this year.

Boxing

Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshuas Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

"Jake Paul Reacts to Anthony Joshua's Stunning Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Two Early Knockdowns"

Jake Paul was the last man to fight Anthony Joshua and he has now revealed his verdict on AJ’s chaotic victory over Kristian Prenga.

Joshua went up against Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturdayin a clash that was expected to be a comfortable win for the former world heavyweight champion in order to set up the long overdue battle against Tyson Fury.

Any hopes of seeing that clash were nearly ended after AJ was dropped twice in the opening round of the bout, though he was able to recover and claim the second round knockout to come out on top and prevent a stunning shock upset from taking place.

Saturday’s outing saw Joshua back in the ring for the first time since his sixth round triumph over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul back in Decemberand now ‘The Problem Child’ himself has shared his reaction to his former rival’s victory over Prenga.

Posting on social mediaPaul praised AJ for earning the win, after returning to action following the tragic car crash he was involved in at the end of last year which took the lives of his two close friends.

“Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through. Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.”

Happy for Joshua with that win after all he’s been through.

Remembering Sina and Latz with this one.

— Jake Paul (@jakepaul) July 25, 2026

The win for Joshua should now tee up for meeting with Fury later this year, after ‘The Gypsy King’ held up his end of the bargain by also securing a win in his warm-up bout on Friday, securing a seventh round retirement win against Mariusz Wach.

Boxing

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshuas Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Published

1 day ago

July 25, 2026

The Punch Junkie™ News

Tony Bellew Reviews Anthony Joshua's Comeback Victory Over Kristian Prenga After Knockdown Drama

Anthony Joshua may have earned a knockout win over Kristian Prenga but the fight certainly didn’t unfold as most people expected.

Joshua was facing the Albanian in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia on Saturday, and it looked like a massive upset could be on the cards when he was dropped twice in the opening round.

‘AJ’ was able to recover and went on to secure a second round knockout victory to prevent the shock lossseemingly paving the way for the battle against Tyson Fury later this year.

One man who was ringside to witness the battle was former cruiserweight world champion Tony Bellewand he praised Joshua’s ability to turn things around in the fight after describing it as ‘chaos’.

“We predicted round two but I don’t think we foresaw that. That was chaos. He doesn’t see the uppercut coming and finds himself on the floor without knowing how he got there.

“The second one he did see it coming and he was able to clench down on the jaw. He got up and then the experience that he has he used tonight because he tied him up. Against Andy Ruiz he didn’t know what he was doing and didn’t know how to do that, but tonight he did.

“He showed once again there is no quit. To be that hurt in the first round and get up, that’s the recoveries of power. People talk about your chin, but it’s not, it’s the level of fitness that gets you up from the floor.

“When Joshua gets a fighter hurt he’s the best finisher in the division. Whenever he hurts someone they’re gone. I haven’t seen him drop anybody and they survive, only Andy Ruiz. He’s a ruthless finisher.”

The clash between Joshua and Fury is now expected to be announced soon for later this year, after Fury won his own interim fight on Friday by defeating Mariusz Wach.