Shakur Stevenson and Eddie Hearn Go to War on Twitter
Among boxing heads, it comes as no surprise that WBO world featherweight champion “Fearless” Shakur Stevenson (13-0, 7 KO’s) has long sought a prizefight with IBF world featherweight champion Josh “The Leeds Warrior” Warrington.
In fact, Stevenson has pursued Warrington through two separate promotional companies. Along the way, each fighter and their respective promotional companies have acknowledged one another. However, a mutually signed contract has failed to emerge.
Now, starting April 21, Stevenson and Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn have been going tit-for-tat in an extended Twitter feud. And as could easily be assumed, they are woofing at one another regarding Stevenson’s open pursuit of the bout with the Leeds Warrior.
BUMPY BACKSTORY
The fairly cordial exchange ignited when Stevenson tweeted that as a direct result of being unable to secure the Warrington fight he was moving up to super featherweight. While announcing his departure, Fearless made sure to poke fun at the fact that Team Warrington was choosing to face the regular WBA featherweight champion Xu “Monster” Can (18-2, 3 KO’s) rather than himself.
It was then that Hearn jumped into the mix affirming that the bout hadn’t been made for lack of an offer. Not only did the UK fight hustler proclaim an offer was made, he said that he and Shakur Stevenson’s own promotional team felt it was solid.
Without skipping a beat, Stevenson retorted that Warrington’s previous promotional team, Queensberry Promotion, had sent an offer but not Hearn or Matchroom Boxing. And when Fearless referenced the Queensberry offer, he described it as being ‘chump change’. Hearn would respond by insisting that both he and Frank Warren sent their own separate offers.
From there, the back and forth consisted of Fearless calling Hearn a liar and charged his behavior as ‘lame’. At one point, one of Stevenson’s co-managers, Andre Ward, entered the party to essentially co-sign his client by confirming the contract needed to be above average to suffice.
MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING?
When all was said and done, there was nothing of substantial note that emerged from the exchange. Well, nothing outside of an entertaining back and forth. However, toward the duel’s end, Stevenson suggested that all parties get on the phone and hash a fight out.
Fearless reasoned that neither he nor Warrington had a fight scheduled, so nothing was there to prevent their own clash. In response, Eddie Hearn agreed that a telephone conference of that nature could prove to be quite productive. Regrettably though, there was no indication that a tangible call was being put together other than hypothetically.
Although, toward the end of the exchange, Hearn offered to discuss the matter with Stevenson live on social media. It was an offer that Fearless claimed he’d be happy to take. If Stevenson does go head-to-head with Hearn live, then we could very likely see this fight get some good traction. And that would be constructive for all parties concerned, including the fans!
Or, at the very least, we’ll get another good session of entertainment!
By: Bakari Simpson
