According to the promoter, the long-awaited fight can take place, despite Shakur’s recent announcement of retirement
Promoter Bob Arum announced a possible fight between the WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson and former world champion in three weight categories Vasily Lomachenko – subject to certain conditions.
“Shakur is the WBC champion. There are a lot of good fighters he can fight, but obviously in the future we will have Shakur fight [Василием] Lomachenko if he succeeds against [Джорджа] Kambosos, or Emmanuel Navarette if he becomes the WBO 135-pound champion.”
“Everything requires patience. Shakur is a huge talent, but like many other amazing talents, he gets impatient and wants everything today or tomorrow. This doesn’t happen in boxing. So, I understand his frustration, but I also think that now that he’s had time to think, he understands that he needs to be patient and that there are big fights ahead of him.”
The other day, the same Arum said that Stevenson had decided to retire due to a failed fight with Navarrete, who is the WBO super featherweight champion (up to 130 pounds).
At the end of January, Shakur announced his retirement from his professional career. In November 2023, the American former world featherweight and super featherweight champion complained about the reluctance of Ukrainian Vasily Lomachenko to fight him. Shakur soon defeated Edwin De Los Santos by unanimous decision to win the vacant WBC lightweight title.
Previously, Stevenson repeatedly challenged Lomachenko to a fight, stating that Vasily was offered the largest fee for the fight.
The title fight for the vacant IBF lightweight belt between Kambosos and Lomachenko will take place on May 12. The event is planned in Australia.
Lomachenko fought his last fight in May 2023, losing to Devin Haney in the fight for the title of absolute world champion. Many experts then considered that the result of the fight was unfair. After the defeat, Vasily decided to take a vacation until the end of the year.
Navarrete, 29, fought to a draw with Brazilian Robson Conceicao in November to retain his WBO super featherweight title.
In his next fight, Navarrete will face WBO International lightweight champion, Ukrainian Denis Berinchyk. The fight will be for the vacant WBO lightweight champion belt.
Source: Sportarena
I am Ashley Ortiz and I am a professional journalist working for Athletistic. My specialty is in sports journalism, particularly boxing. I have written articles for some of the most renowned publications on the subject, and my work has been featured across both print and digital media platforms.
