Shakur Stevenson's reign as one of boxing's least hittable fighters continues. The Newark native has left 22 opponents scratching their heads, unable to solve his elusive style.
Stevenson, a three-weight world champion, currently holds the WBC Lightweight World Title. He's made one successful defense but faced criticism for playing it safe in the ring. The champ has assured fans he'll step up against top competition.
While sidelined with a hand injury, Stevenson eyes a February 2025 clash with William Zepeda. But another name keeps popping up in conversations about potential challengers.
Gervonta 'Tank' Davis, the WBA Lightweight Champion from Baltimore, stands as Stevenson's polar opposite. Davis boasts devastating power, with only two of his fights going the distance. He's set to face Lamont Roach Jr. in December.
Famed trainer turned analyst Teddy Atlas believes Davis is the only fighter who can beat Stevenson. Speaking on Pro Box TV, Atlas broke down why:
"Tank Davis is the man. Right now he's in his prime, he can do everything. Forget about the fact he's the harder puncher and all of that, but he's also a terrific counter-puncher, sets traps, can use his legs when he has to, he's patient when he needs to be, deliberate, cerebral. Right now he's the complete package. He's probably the only guy I can think of beating Shakur Stevenson right now. Shakur Stevenson is that difficult because of his style, his ability, his eyes, legs, hand speed, the way that he controls range. Tank Davis is the only guy I can see that can possibly decipher Shakur Stevenson. That's how good he is. That's why he's the man."
Atlas paints Davis as the complete package - a hard puncher with a sharp boxing IQ. He praises Davis's ability to set traps, counter-punch, and adjust his style as needed.
The analyst doesn't shortchange Stevenson, noting his excellent control of range, hand speed, and overall difficult style. But Atlas sees Davis as uniquely equipped to crack the Stevenson code.
A potential Davis-Stevenson showdown ranks among boxing's most intriguing matchups. With both fighters undefeated and in their primes, fans can only hope this clash of styles comes to fruition in the near future.
