Shakur Stevenson Thinks Oscar Valdez Wants No Smoke
On June 9, WBO world featherweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (14-0, 8 KO’s) enjoyed his first successful foray into the super featherweight division. During that fledgling appearance, Stevenson unloaded a debilitating body attack that saw him retire his opponent, Felix Caraballo (13-2-2, 9 KO’s), in the sixth round.
If given his choice, Stevenson would love to hop in the ring with WBA super world super featherweight Leo Santa “El Terremoto” Cruz (37-1-1, 19 KO’s). However, the only reason that Fearless initially went to super featherweight in the first place is because he was unable to secure the prizefight with IBF world featherweight champion Josh “The Leeds Warrior” Warrington (30-0, 7 KO’s) that he actually wanted.
Yet, it’s very likely that the fight Stevenson wants against Santa Cruz will go unrealized; at least for the time being that is. This is because El Terremoto is expected to take on WBA world lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis (23-0, 22 KO’s).
GIVE ME VALDEZ!
Thus far, Warrington has been a bust and there is a high probability that Santa Cruz will also be unavailable for Stevenson’s next at bat. Maddeningly, Fearless is under the impression that even his third choice opponent, former featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (27-0, 21 KO’s), will also prove to be yet another elusive target.
“If it’s not Leo [Santa Cruz], maybe Oscar Valdez. It’s a couple names at 130 that I could get in the ring with. But most likely Oscar Valdez…with Oscar it’s probably going to be a little bit harder because I don’t know if he wants to fight me.”
“He had the opportunity to fight me at 126 and he kind of vacated the belt and moved up to 130. And now that I am here [130], I keep hearing him say that he wants to fight [Miguel] Berchelt, which I understand because Berchelt is a [WBC] champion, so I can’t knock that. But I don’t know if he really wants to fight me, so.”
Now that Stevenson has once again verbalized who he wants next, all that is left to do is see where all the cards, and fighters, land. Stay tuned to 3kingsboxing.com for all the latest boxing news and updates.
By: Bakari Simpson
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