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Shakur Stevenson prepares to headline an ESPN event against Artem Harutyunyan on July 6 in Newark, N.J., Stevenson's focus is on one thing: securing a showdown with WBA champion Gervonta Davis.
Stevenson, 26, is no stranger to big fights and high stakes. Holding titles in three divisions and being a unified world champion in the junior lightweight division, Stevenson has faced tough competition. Yet, one name eludes him – Gervonta Davis.
Davis, 30, has been vocal about his willingness to fight elite competition. However, Stevenson is growing increasingly impatient with Davis' claims and wants action, not words.
"How many times is he going to say he is going to fight an elite fighter and not fight them?" Stevenson recently remarked. "He [is] 30 years old now, bro is 30, talking about he is going to fight me. He said next, okay, well, do it."
Stevenson's frustration stems from not just the lack of big fights but also the emergence of young talents in his weight class, including Davis, Devin Haney, Teofimo Lopez, and Ryan Garcia, whom he has yet to face.
"Are you really going to fight me or just going to keep saying what you are going to do to somebody?" Stevenson challenged Davis. "Shut up and fight me."
Stevenson believes the path to making the fight is simple: Davis just needs to send a contract.
"All you got to do is send an offer," Stevenson asserted. "You are the A-side, I know. I am not saying I am the A-side, you’re the [person] with all the notoriety, however it go – but I am right here though. I am not going nowhere as soon as you say let’s fight, I am right here, let’s fight."
Stevenson also took a dig at Frank Martin, who pulled out of a scheduled fight against him for the vacant WBC lightweight title last November. Stevenson ended up winning the title over Edwin De Los Santos in a less-than-stellar fight. Martin has not fought since last July.
"What did Frank Martin do to be elite?" Stevenson questioned. "Frank Martin is a dude who signed up to fight me, got famous for signing up to fight me, and then [didn’t] fight me."
As Stevenson prepares for his upcoming bout, his eyes are set on a bigger prize – a showdown with Davis. For Stevenson, it's not just about winning; it's about proving himself against the best in the world.