CAN SHAKUR STEVENSON PROVE GARCIA WRONG?
Ryan Garcia gave Shakur Stevenson a harsh reality check on social media, criticizing him after his lackluster win over Artem Harutyunyan last Saturday night at the Prudential Center in Newark. Garcia suggested that Stevenson “microdose on shrooms” to cope with the ego hit he's taking from fans' backlash over his dull performance.
Garcia's Brutal Honesty
Garcia didn't hold back, telling Stevenson on X that “everyone knows you are terrified in the ring. You fight like a scared man.” This blunt critique echoes the style of classic sports commentator Howard Cosell, and it's a truth Stevenson may not want to face.
Stevenson's Defense
Stevenson, the WBC lightweight champion, has been defending himself against numerous critics on social media. Despite winning a twelve-round unanimous decision, his performance was underwhelming. He needed a knockout to attract big promoters, but his power fell short, and he didn't capitalize when Harutyunyan was stunned in the ninth round.
The Harsh Reality of Free Agency
Stevenson hopes to find better opportunities with a new promoter who can secure fights against big names like Gervonta Davis and Vasily Lomachenko. However, no matter where Stevenson lands, be it PBC or Matchroom, they won't guarantee him these marquee fights. He might not even get an offer that surpasses or matches the $15 million, five-fight deal Top Rank offered, which he rejected.
Promoter Challenges
Eddie Hearn of Matchroom has already stated he won't pay Stevenson the kind of money Top Rank's Bob Arum offered. Without big fights on the horizon, signing with Matchroom might not be worthwhile. The best Matchroom can offer are fighters like Andy Cruz, Regis Prograis, Liam Paro, Jack Catterall, and Richardson Hitchins. None of these matchups are big-money, pay-per-view level fights in the U.S., and some might even beat Stevenson.
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