SPORTS FACTS AND FIGURES 39: BOB ARUM SAYS LOTS OF FIGHTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR SHAKUR STEVENSON TO UNRETIRE
By Maloney L. Samaco
PhilBoxing.com
Wed, 07 Feb 2024
Shakur Stevenson in Las Vegas.
Top Rank promoter Bob Arum clarified that the fights that Shakur Stevenson wants against Emanuel Navarrete and Vasily Lomachenko are not feasible at present because those fighters are taking advantage of available world title fights for the vacant lightweight belts.
* * *
Arum thinks that WBC lightweight champion Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs), who retired recently because of bitterness of not obtaining the fights with Loma and Navarrete, has to be patient because those prospective bouts will be come for him in time.
* * *
For the meantime, Bob says there are still lots of interesting fights available to Shakur at his lightweight division and he can take advantage of them. Although Arum did not categorically say who Stevenson can fight against.
* * *
"Shakur wanted to fight [Emanuel] Navarrete, who is the 130-lb [WBO] champion, now moving up to 135,” Bob Arum told Fighthype and Boxing News 24 about the retired Shakur Stevenson, still the WBC lightweight champion.
* * *
It’s difficult for Arum to arrange Navarrete to fight Shakur because his camp won't be going to agree to that fight unless there’s a bigger purse available. “Navarrete was ordered if he wants to fight for a title [vacant WBO 135-lb belt] to fight [Denys] Berinchyk, which the fight will happen."
* * *
"Then, as far as Lomachenko is concerned. Loma got a bigger offer; we got a big offer for Loma to fight Kambosos for the IBF [lightweight] title in Australia [on May 12th], which he took," added Arum.
* * *
“Shakur is the WBC [135-lb] champion. There are plenty of good fighters for him to fight. Obviously, down the road, we’ll be able to do a fight between Shakur and Lomachenko if he’s successful with Kambosos or with Navarrete if he becomes the WBO 135-lb champion," Arum said.
* * *
According to the veteran promoter, "Everything takes patience. Now, Shakur is a tremendous talent, and with a lot of tremendous talent, they become impatient. They want everything today or tomorrow. That’s not the way it happens in boxing."
* * *
"So, I understand his [Stevenson] frustration, but I also understand that now that he’s had time to reflect, he realizes that he’s got to be patient and the big fights will come to him,” said Arum.
* * *
Shakur has held multiple world championships in three weight classes from featherweight to super featherweight to lightweight. As an amateur, he donned the flag of the United States at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics, and won a silver medal in the bantamweight division. He is undefeated in 21 fights with 10 knockouts in the pros.
* * *
Sports History: February 7, 2023. LeBron James scored 38 points to become the NBA's all-time leading scorer as the Lakers were defeated by Oklahoma City Thunder, 133-130, in Los Angeles. He broke Kareem Abdul-Jabbar's record of 38,387 career points.
Click here to view a list of other articles written by Maloney L. Samaco.
Recent PhilBoxing.com In-House articles:
Acedo finishes second in UAE chess
By Marlon Bernardino, Sun, 13 Apr 2025"Boots" Ennis Stops Stanionis in Dominant Unification Victory
By Dong Secuya, Sun, 13 Apr 2025Golden State Meets LAC in Must-Win Last Game; Wins, Loses by Other Teams May Muddle Things
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Sun, 13 Apr 2025Raymond Ford Dominates Mattice in Ennis-Stanionis Co-Main Event Thriller in Atlantic City (Full Undercard Results)
Sun, 13 Apr 2025Ennis vs Stanionis: Jaron Laces Up His Boots for a Battle in Atlantic City
By Chris Carlson, Sat, 12 Apr 2025Ennis and Stanionis Hit the Scales Ahead of Saturday's Welterweight Title Clash
Sat, 12 Apr 2025Full Fight Card Announced for Sanman Boxing Show Featuring Marlon Tapales on April 27
Sat, 12 Apr 2025TONIGHTS Roy Jones Jr Card Weighin Results
Sat, 12 Apr 20252025 PHILRACOM ROAD TO TRIPLE CROWN
Sat, 12 Apr 2025Haven for Pinoy boxers
By Joaquin Henson, Fri, 11 Apr 2025WEIGHTS FROM FISTS OF FURY 6 AT SEMINOLE HARD ROCK HOTEL & CASINO HOLLYWOOD, IN HOLLYWOOD, FLORIDA
Fri, 11 Apr 2025Golden State Warriors Shoot Selves on Foot, Lose to Wembanyama-less Spurs, 114-111
By Teodoro Medina Reynoso, Fri, 11 Apr 2025IIEE-PSME Quezon City wins three in a row in PCAP All-Filipino Cup
By Marlon Bernardino, Fri, 11 Apr 2025FINAL PRESS CONFERENCE QUOTES FOR BOOTS VS. STANIONIS IN ATLANTIC CITY
Fri, 11 Apr 2025Ramon Cardenas: “Undisputed Is The Ultimate Prize”
Fri, 11 Apr 2025