Shakur Stevenson is rumored to be the next signing of Matchroom Boxing USA promoter Eddie Hearn.
Unbeaten WBC lightweight champion Shakur's contract with current promoters Top Rank expires after his fight on July 6 in New Jersey, making him a free agent.
Hearn is growing steadily
Thaboxingvoice reports that Matchroom are targeting undefeated Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) to add to their stable, giving them another major addition to the US promotion's division.
Hearn recently signed IBF welterweight champion Jaron 'Boots' Ennis. That move gives Hearn the No. 1 fighter in the 147 lb weight class. If Hearn can knock out 26-year-old Shakur Stevenson, he has a future star if he can finish his build.
Potential wasted at the top ranks
Top Rank tried and failed to realize Shakur's potential in turning him into the 24K gold they expect at the moment. Some fans believe Shakur has worn out his welcome at Top Rank after his lackluster performance last November against Edwin De Los Santos.
Shakur spent most of that match on the move, trying not to let De Los Santos take his head, and the crowd at ringside booed him endlessly, even after the match.
In addition to signing with Boots Ennis, Hearn recently signed IBF lightweight champion Subriel Matias, who some feel is the best fighter at 140 and has the ability to defeat the champion WBC Devin Haney and WBO titleholder Teofimo Lopez.
Hearn may need to outbid PBC to land Shakur Stevenson, as Al Haymon's Premier Boxing Champions company is expected to try to sign him. Hearn has the edge in the race for Shakur's signature given the dates he will spend with him.
Schedules are busier with Matchroom
With PBC only having a handful of dates each year with their new platform at Amazon Prime Video Shakur could find himself limited to one or two games per year. If he's okay with that, he probably won't have a problem.
By signing with Hearn, Shakur will likely stay busy, fighting three or more times a year, which is what he needs to become a star with his Mayweather-like fighting style.
Shakur fights the way Floyd Mayweather Jr. fought. did when he was older, played it safe, made it boring, not when he was in the 'Pretty Boy' phase of his career, trying to get by, make it interesting and score goals into the knockout net.
