WBC Orders Shakur Stevenson vs Frank Martin Vacant Title Bout
Two-division world champion Shakur Stevenson (20-0, 10 KOs) finally has an opponent lined up to fight for the vacant WBC lightweight title. According to ESPN, the WBC has ordered a match between Stevenson and Frank “The Ghost” Martin (14-0, 10 KOs), currently ranked fourth by the sanctioning body at 135.
HOW WE GOT HERE
On August 2, the WBC named lightweight champion Devin Haney as the WBC Champion in Recess. Haney is moving up to 140 to fight WBC junior welterweight champion Regis Prograis this fall. They also ordered Stevenson to face the highest available challenger for the now-vacant belt.
Isaac “Pitbull” Cruz is ranked third by the WBC. But signs are that Cruz will engage in a rematch with current WBA Regular lightweight champion Gervonta “Tank” Davis.
Stevenson has been frustrated about not landing a significant fight at 135 and felt top fighters in the division are avoiding him. But he’s ecstatic that he’s getting to fight for a world lightweight title. When the news broke of his ordered fight against Martin, the two-division world champion said the following on social media:
Martin is coming off a unanimous decision victory over Artem Harutyunyan on July 15. Following his win over Harutyunyan, The Ghost called for a matchup with Stevenson.
The camps of Stevenson and Martin are in negotiations. If they can’t agree on a deal, the bout will go to a September 5 purse bid. But there is optimism that the fight will get done. Word on the street that a Stevenson – Martin match will occur in November. Stay tuned to 3kingsboxing.com for further updates.
