It would be one of the biggest fights in the sport, and Shakur Stevenson is keen to test himself against Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis.
Stevenson is a throwback, glory first and money later. He just wants the opportunity to prove he is the best lightweight in the world.
However, the Top Rank star and Davis, who is with PBC, might be some way from facing one another in the ring.
Stevenson is ready, though, and happy for that fight to happen sooner rather than later.
“That’s all up to him,” Stevenson said, ahead of his own fight with 16-1 Edwin De Los Santos in Las Vegas next month. “He [Davis]’s the one of the biggest superstars in the sport of boxing, once they give me that call, I’ve just got to answer the phone call. You’ve got to ask Tank all them questions [about why it might not happen]. I think me and him is the biggest and best fight, I think we have superior skills and real talent and whether he wants to admit it or not, I know that that’s the best fight.”
Southpaw Stevenson is 26 and, at 20-0 (10), a two-weight champion who is running his own race.
“I’ve got to keep doing what I’m doing,” he said, of how he might land a fight with 29-0 (27 KOs) Tank, who calls himself the face of boxing. “Maybe in the next year or two, I’ll turn myself into the biggest star in the sport and I’ll call shots the same way he calls shots. Once the fight presents itself, I will be ready. Honestly, if the fight was presented right now I’d be ready.”
Stevenson was asked percentage-wise what he might take for the fight, and whether he would accept a 60/40 split.
“Honestly, why would I not take it?” Shakur replied. “I ain’t trying to get into the business but, once again, he’s the biggest superstar in the sport so give me the call and I’m ready to talk.”
The lightweight division is still one of the most attractive in the sport, despite the likes of Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney moving north to super-lightweight. Maybe by the time it’s all said and done, Shakur would have fought them all, but for now there is one fighter that Stevenson thinks helps him break the box office and the bank. He also thinks a fight with Davis could sell out the new Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas.
“I think me and Tank, we’re going to do big numbers,” Stevenson added. “When that fight happens, just because of the hype and the world’s going to want to see it, the best versus the best, I think the stadium would be filled. I can’t tell you how big the numbers would be, but I think it’s going to be a million.”
There is an image of Stevenson with Tank looking cordial with Stevenson on social media that has done the rounds in recent times. Asked whether that meant they got on well, Stevenson replied: “I ain’t cool with nobody.”
