Shakur Stevenson Likely To Explore Free Agency After Saturday’s Fight

Shakur Stevenson is about to be a contractual free agent. The undefeated three-division world champ (and current WBC lightweight titlist) has actually spent the better part of a year letting people know this reality. And, by all accounts, he apparently plans to hit that open market once he has that last fight under his Top Rank contract this Saturday against former Olympic bronze medalist Artem Harutyunyan.

But is there much of an open market anymore? This isn’t a few years ago when DAZN and PBC were (over) spending, wild and free, to get their feet in the proverbial boxing door. The only ones spending crazy, insane, stupid money these days are the Saudis, but they’ve yet to show much of a desire to toss filthy lucre at the smaller-weight fighters.

Boring?

Another factor is Stevenson’s well-earned reputation as a fighter who will sacrifice fan-friendly action and even marginal showmanship for a safe points victory. This was also a knock against him in his early days as a pro, but, to his credit, he turned that safety-first mentality around a bit for his, so far, career-defining victories in 2021 and 2022 against Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez, respectively.

In recent showings, however, the talented stylist has reverted back to previous form, something which culminated in a deadly-dull points win over Edwin De Los Santos last November, which nearly set records for lack of engagement.

Despite the bad energy, there are big fights out there for the talented stylist. A bout with Gervonta “Tank” Davis would do big business. A matchup against Vasiliy Lomachenko would also sell. There are a couple other “big fight” options for him as well. All of them would be easier to make as a free agent, with only the Lomachenko bout likely requiring him to re-sign with Top Rank.

Shakur Speaks

“I’m going to talk to everybody,” Stevenson told DAZN Boxing earlier this year. “I’m still in contract, but I’m just letting you know as far as the promoters and everybody that works in boxing. Just pay attention to what I just told y’all…I’m going to talk with everybody. I’m going to explore all options.”

But as the possible end of his contract approaches, the 27-year-old is sounding like someone increasingly disenchanted with his deal and eager to breathe free, free air.

“[Top Rank bossman] Bob [Arum] was basically trying to say, ‘Top Rank or nothing,’” Shakur told FightHub TV in a recent interview. He was referring to Arum’s public insinuation that he might have a tough time finding a deal as a free agent in this current boxing business climate.

“He was basically putting it out there that I don’t got no other options out there but Top Rank, and ‘Go see the market and go come back and see us.’ And then he was saying conversations that he and Eddie Hearn were allegedly having. We don’t know if it’s true or not…I think Bob should just shut up and allow the people that’s running his company to run his company because he’s not even running his own company.”

Is Top Rank still in the mix, though? Could he possibly re-sign after all?

“I don’t know,” Shakur said. “I don’t count nothing out. It’s business…The same way they look at it is the same way I look at it. If the business makes sense, then yeah, if the business don’t make sense, then there’s no point. I know my worth. I know in the years to come, I’m going to be one of the most legendary fighters to ever do it. That’s my worth.”