Shakur Stevenson wants Oscar Valdez over Jamel Herring
When it comes to super featherweight boxer “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (15-0, 8 KO’s), there is no question the he wants a world title. Within the super featherweight division he has been associated with two significant names. The first being WBO Super Featherweight champion Jamel “Semper Fi” Herring (23-2, 11 KO’s). The second is WBC World Super Featherweight champion Oscar Valdez (29-0, 23 KO’s).
Between the two, there is no secret that Stevenson has been chasing a bout with Valdez for longer. This is a showdown that the New Jersey native has pursued since they both were down at featherweight. In fact, if you were to ask Fearless about the matter, he feels that the WBC champion has openly avoided him. From this angle. the juicier storyline is attached to the Stevenson/Valdez dust-up.
Technically speaking however, despite his desire to fight Valdez, Fearless has a clearer shot at Herring. This is because Stevenson holds the #1 position in the WBO rankings, making him Semper Fi’s mandatory challenger. At the moment though, Herring feels that he has bigger fish to fry. If given the choice, he would rather chase unification bouts rather than defend his belt against his eager challenger.
GIVE ME MY SHOT!
This actually would suit Stevenson just fine. Of course he would like to challenge for the WBO title, and he has repeatedly shown interest in that fight. Ultimately however, Fearless is more passionate about chucking knuckles with Valdez.
“I got to honest with you. At the end of the day, Jamel is 35, he got two losses, congrats on his WBO belt but me and Valdez is the big fight! Valdez is undefeated in his prime, and me and Valdez would be the biggest fight at 130 pounds. So I think that that fight should be next.”
When it comes to his thoughts on a bout with Herring, Stevenson clearly is not lacking in confidence!
“The thing is, we know I am going to beat Herring. With all due respect to Jamel, we know I am going there to torch Jamel! And it’ll be easy work and that is what it is! Valdez is a higher threat, he’s a bigger risk fight. Why not fight the bigger fight? I’m prepared to do whatever route it goes but the route that I want is me and Valdez in that ring in the biggest fight at 130. We have unfinished business. Valdez is coming off the biggest win of his career. He beat the number one guy in the division, you got to respect Valdez. I am the best young fighter at 130 pounds and in boxing, so I am just saying! It’s gotta happen!”
First, Stevenson must take care of business on June 12 in his next assignment against Jeremiah “Low Key” Nakathila (21-1, 17 KO’s). Yet provided that Fearless does prevail, it will be interesting to see if he can secure the big fight that he has been looking for.
By: Bakari Simpson
