Shakur Stevenson: 'I don't need Tank Davis'

Shakur Stevenson predicts he will “put on a show” in his WBC lightweight title defense against Floyd Schofield on February 22 in Riyadh. Shakur also said he doesn't need Gervonta Davis and he won't pursue him. That's laughter.

Stevenson (22-0, 10 KOs) wanted to “make a statement” to the Saudi Arabian team and all the fans watching the fight on DAZN PPV. He'll likely have the fans angry and booing in the fourth round because of his moves.

“I'm too smart”

“It's a familiar face to the fans. People know him a little bit. It's going to be a fun fight,” Shakur Stevenson said of the Feb. 22 vs. Floyd Jr. Deschofield told Fight Hub TV during his title defense. “This is a motivated kid. He wants to take my place. He wants to take my crown.

“When you fight a hungry young lion, that's a lot to deal with in itself. I remember being that age myself. I wanted to win a world title so bad. I worked very, very hard. I expect the same from him.

“My experience. I've got so much experience for him. I'm so smart. I'm going to take him to a level he's never been to before,” Shakur said of Schofield. “I'm the name on the card. I've got a show to put on. Kidd Schofield is on the way. You better be really focused.

Schofield would make Shakur look bad, pressure him and hit him hard every time he got close enough to connect. Stevenson will be forced to fight like he did against Edwin de los Santos, and I wouldn't be surprised if the Saudi crowd boos him. They're both polite people, but Stevenson's run might piss them off enough to make them boo him out of the ring.

“I don't need him”

“If he's going to retire with the career he's had, then keep doing what you have to do. I don't agree with that. I feel very gentle, but this is him,Stevenson said of Gervonta 'Tank' Davis saying he would retire after 2025.

Tank does nothing to gain by fighting Shakur because he is unpopular. If Stevenson had the popularity of Ryan Garcia, Tank would have fought him. He is not. Shakir's popularity has been hampered by his boring fighting style, and now he's getting older. He will be promoted soon.

“I don't like chasing people around. If he's willing to fight, I'm ready to fight. It should happen, but I can't sit there and chase you and then he makes it look like I need him. I don't need him,” Shakur Er said he didn't need Tank Davis.

Who is he kidding? Shakur has been chasing Tank Davis since he moved up to 135 in 2023. He fought, sounding desperate. Sounds like he loves tank battles.

Stevenson's career hinges on that fight, and his promoter Eddie Hearn has been talking non-stop about wanting to be in a Tank vs. Shakur match. This is probably the main reason Hearn signed Shakur, as a fight between him and Tank would bring in a lot of money.