Top Rank Sabotages Shakur Stevenson vs Muratalla Negotiations
Matchroom Boxing Chairman Eddie Hearn claims that Top Rank wanted a huge payday for lightweight contender Raymond “Danger” Muratalla (22-0, 17KO) to face WBC champion Shakur “Fearless” Stevenson (22-0, 10KO). However, in this particular instance, Top Rank is guilty of being underhanded at the negotiating table.
Fearless will defend the title against Floyd Schofield on February 22. This author finds it interesting that Schofield is challenging for a belt with an organization that doesn’t have him ranked. So, one has to ask why Stevenson isn’t fighting someone ranked by the WBC.
The truth is that Schofield wasn’t the first choice. While speaking with KO Artist Sports, Hearn revealed that #2 rated Muratalla was offered the fight, but Top Rank outpriced themselves.
“We made a huge offer to Muratalla. Muratalla asked for $3 million to fight. People don’t see this. People want to criticize Shakur Stevenson. Top Rank asked for $3 million to fight Shakur.”
THEY MAY FIGHT IN A UNIFICATION
Muratalla has been asking for a fight against one of the champions. So, if what Hearn says is true, why did Top Rank sabotage negotiations? When looking at the rankings from the other sanctioning bodies, Danger could fight for the vacant IBF title. That is providing Vasyl Lomachenko retires, as indicated by the recent sentiments coming from Top Rank.
What known challenger warrants that kind of payday? Certainly not Muratalla, and deep down, Top Rank knows it. This was nothing but shameful grandstanding. It’s an insult to the intelligence of all serious boxing fans.
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