Shakur Stevenson and the pursuit of undisputed status
Shakur Stevenson aims to become undisputed by targeting champions like Liam Paro and Gary Antuanne Russell. His defensive fighting style and 25-0 record present unique challenges as he seeks to join the elite group of 26 boxers to hold all four major titles.
The free agent path
Stevenson holds a 25-0 record. He defeated Teofimo Lopez on January 31, 2026, in New York to capture the WBO and Ring super lightweight titles. He is 29 years old and lives in Newark, New Jersey. He left Zuffa in October after attempting fights with Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney. I find his fighting style unexciting. Fans booed him in Newark against Artem Harutyunyan. They also booed him in Las Vegas against Edwin De Los Santos. His defensive focus often leads to low engagement.
| Statistic | Shakur Stevenson |
|---|---|
| Record | 25-0-0 |
| Knockout Ratio | 44% |
| Height | 170 cm |
| Reach | 173 cm |
| Age | 29 |
While Stevenson possesses immense technical skill, his defensive-minded approach often leads to boos from the crowd, which directly impacts the total amount of money he can expect to receive from massive, high-profile pay-per-view fights throughout his entire professional boxing career. He has boxed 190 rounds. His fights average 7.6 rounds. He has a 44% knockout ratio.
Targetting the belts
Stevenson has several paths to unification. He could target Liam Paro to win the IBF belt. He could also challenge Gary Antuanne Russell for the WBA title. Dalton Smith holds the WBC championship at 140. Fighting the winner of Jack Catterall versus Regis Prograis remains another possibility. Russell defended his belt against Andy Hiraoka in February. Paro recently beat Subriel Matias. Smith beat Alberto Puello, who has 11 knockout wins. If he stays at 135, he could face Andy Cruz. Cruz is 4-0 and defeated Keywshawn Davis in the amateurs. Another option is fighting Gary Cully, who has an 18-1 record. He could also face Cameron Vuong, who has 3 knockouts in 5 wins. Eddie Hearn and Dalton Smith agree a fight is the right move. Cruz is a skillful fighter, but a loss would damage the Stevenson brand. Hearn labels Cruz as someone who could beat Gervonta Davis.
O’Shaquie Foster is another option. Foster is the super featherweight champion. He beat Emanuel Navarrete to win his gold. He knocked Navarrete down twice and earned a decision win. This comes after he beat Raymond Ford, Stephen Fulton, and Robson Conceicao. Foster wants to face Stevenson. He says he would move up to 140 to make the fight happen.
Chasing the legends
Gervonta Davis’s trainer, Calvin Ford, said they will send Stevenson a contract. Stevenson rejected a 25 percent offer to fight Devin Haney at 135. He also wants to fight Isaac Cruz, the WBC Interim champion. Being undisputed requires holding the WBA, WBC, IBF, and WBO titles. Only 11 men have held all four in the four-belt era. He holds four weight titles. He won an Olympic silver medal in 2016. You know how much a fourth title changes a legacy.
Becoming undisputed is a rare feat. Only 26 boxers have held all four titles simultaneously. The four major sanctioning bodies have recognized each other since 2007. The WBA emerged in 1921 and changed its name to the World Boxing Association in 1962. The WBC formed in 1963. The WBO appeared in 1988 in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He is the oldest of his mother’s nine children. His reach is 68.1 inches. Will he ever find a fighter who forces him to throw more than a few punches?
