By Ricardo Lezama 
As Shakur Stevenson ends his contractual obligations with Top Rank, the current WBC lightweight champion should have some options in the open market, but none that could appeal to him. The 3 division champion who is currently still undefeated should be a household name. However, some of his detractors and even fans appear to not be wooed by his performance.
Stevenson’s typically defensive and accurate punching focused performances have turned off fans even in his native Newark, New Jersey, many of whom were seen walking out of the venue due to a lacklustre 11th round. Presumably, in their defense, to dodge foot traffic towards the NJ Transit or PATH line, or, miss traffic on the way back to the turnpike. The problem reduces to one single concept: punch output. Both in terms of power and volume, Stevenson’s problem is that he throws low volume combinations, which are very accurate, and low power ones so as to not overcommit and get clobbered in a counter. That works from a boxing technique standpoint, but surely disengages the fans.
Take a ringside seat in Newark 💺#ShakurArtem | LIVE on @ESPN pic.twitter.com/7cvsc6lIdy
— Top Rank Boxing (@trboxing) July 7, 2024
Shakur Stevenson’s Mixed Performance Sparks Controversy Among Boxing Enthusiasts
Stevenson, renowned for his defensive prowess and disciplined fighting style, left fans and critics alike divided over his performance against Artem. While the professional boxer is universally hailed as a masterful defender, his offense in this particular ‘game of inches’ – as Tim Bradley likes to call boxing – left room for criticism. Some referred to his comments ironically as the commentator tends to favor the more artistic movement strategies of boxing.
“Shakur puts that mental pressure on you” pic.twitter.com/IL1HZNvQuv
— jb 🥊 (@BoxingJb) July 7, 2024
Even as commendations for his ongoing excellence in the ring reverberated across the boxing community, an undercurrent of disappointment persisted.
Many fans deemed the fight lackluster and unimpressive in terms of offense, preferring a bout of vibrancy and energy. One fan referred to Stevenson’s style as ‘coasting to decisions’, indicating a belief that the boxing champ appears to be hinging on his reputation as a great defender without demonstrating the versatility needed to keep his fans excited. In fact, his own coach appeared desperate to have him commit to a knockout that never came because Stevenson could not find the combinations and power to defeat his opponent.
Coach been giving Shakur the keys to the stoppage after every round and he's just talking back
— Gritty From Da Underground 🏁 (@grittywuzhere) July 7, 2024
Despite the varying opinions, some spectators appreciated the defensive finesse displayed by Shakur Stevenson during the fight. Making a comparison to Floyd Mayweather, another acknowledged that exciting fights are not always measured by knockouts but also by steady control throughout the bout. In the wake of this controversial performance, Stevenson is left a free agent. Bets are on to see which promotional team will sign him up next.
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