Promoter Eddie Hearn says after Shakur Stevenson “offers with” his substitute opponent, Josh Padley, on Saturday night time, “then deliver on Tank” Davis.
(Credit score: Mark Robinson/Matchroom)
Hearn is in a rush to make that battle, which might be the ultimate battle of Shakur’s two-fight cope with Matchroom Boxing. Saturday is Shakur’s first battle on his contract. For Hearn to push so arduous for the Tank battle to occur subsequent can solely imply one factor: He’s not occupied with re-signing Shakur to a brand new contract.
Hearn’s Tank Focus
You’ll be able to simply inform from watching Shakur’s final two fights that he’s not going to beat any of the highest fighters at 135. That’s why there’s such a rush to make the Tank Davis battle. That battle must occur earlier than Shakur will get uncovered. He’s not rugged sufficient to battle on the prime degree in opposition to the killers at 135, and he is aware of it. The way in which that Hearn is urgently pushing for the Tank Davis battle in what can be Shakur’s second bout of his two-fight contract with Matchoom contract suggests he is aware of it too. It’s like, ‘Let me unload this lemon earlier than everybody discovers it’s counterfeit.’
Shakur is just too fragile to beat the highest fighters within the light-weight division, and he’s nonetheless unbeaten as a result of he hasn’t fought anybody good at 135. He nearly misplaced to Edwin De Los Santos and blamed his poor efficiency on his hand issues.
Padley isn’t exactly the kind of opponent to arrange a mega-fight in opposition to the ‘Face of Boxing’ Tank Davis. That’s the kind of man a wily, crafty promoter would match a hype job up in opposition to to create the phantasm of greatness to maneuver right into a cash-out. It’s the previous trick when attempting to make a flawed fighter look good. You match them in opposition to one thing far worse, and so they look good.
If Hearn wished to construct the Tank battle in an actual manner, he’d match Shakur in opposition to one among these fighters subsequent:
– Andy Cruz
– Abdullah Mason
– Ernesto Mercado
“Shakur Stevenson, pound-for-pound greatest fighter on this planet, and good luck to Josh Padley. He’ll include [courage], and he’ll give it a very good go,” mentioned Eddie Hearn to iFL TV, celebrating Josh Padley being chosen by him because the alternative to problem WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson on Saturday night time in Riyadh.
“He’ll [Padley] get beat, I consider, however good luck to him. He’s a very good lad from Yorkshire goes to make a pleasant few quid, change his life, and battle for the [WBC lightweight] world title. He’s up for it. He’s not checking himself in nowhere.
“So, don’t waste our time, particularly with regards to Shakur Stevenson, as a result of this child is without doubt one of the greatest fighters in boxing. I’m not permitting anybody to disrupt his profession. We cope with Saturday night time, then deliver on Tank. We don’t want these fights. Schofield, Tank combating Lamont Roach. We don’t them. Tank combating Shakur Stevenson. Shakur, present us how nice you might be on Saturday night time. Finish of subject,” mentioned Hearn.
Final Up to date on 02/19/2025
