One of the most iconic boxing trainers of all time has told Shakur Stevenson that he needs a ‘Floyd Mayweather moment’ if he really wants to become a global superstar.
The three-weight world champion undeniably possesses an incredible skill set. However, he’s yet to break through the barrier and cross over into mainstream notoriety.
Teddy Atlas tells Shakur Stevenson that he has to produce a ‘Floyd Mayweather moment’
Since turning professional, Shakur Stevenson has dazzled hardcore fans with his mesmerizing shot selection and awe-inspiring footwork.
Utilizing his remarkable boxing IQ, the American has looked nothing short of spectacular, from a technical perspective, in huge victories over the likes of Jamel Herring and Oscar Valdez, en route to winning championship belts in three weight categories.
However, as much as the purists have salivated over his flashy displays inside the ring, he’s yet to grasp the attention of the casual fans.
Operating in and around the same weight classes as Ryan Garcia, Gervonta Davis and Teofimo Lopez, the 27-year-old is competing for fame with a plethora of heavy hitters with captivating personalities.
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Thus, in order to gain the popularity his talent deserves, he needs to produce something big later tonight, when he defends his WBC lightweight title against Artem Harutyunyan, at the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey.
During an interview with ProBoxTV, Teddy Atlas, who previously trained the great Mike Tyson, explained that the pound-for-pound star needs to emulate Floyd Mayweather if he wants to reach the next level.
He explained: “There’s no getting around it – he’s boring. But it depends what your taste is.
“If you’re a baseball fan, you want to see pitching, hey, you’re going to love Shakur Stevenson. But I think that he needs to have his Floyd Mayweather moment.
“I’m talking about that moment that he had with Diego Corrales, where he went and took him apart.
“With Floyd, some people were saying the same thing a little bit, ‘Floyd he’s a defensive fighter, he doesn’t take chances, you can’t hit him’.
“And then, he goes in there with Diego Corrales, who was a good puncher, good fighter, champion, tremendous, and he takes him apart.
“So, I think that people are waiting for that moment, to be honest with you and waiting [to see] if that moment exists in the career and in the future of Stevenson.”
Who is Artem Harutyunyan?
In a bout hardcore fans are excited for, Stevenson is set to go head-to-head with Harutyunyan, in a match-up where excitement is of paramount importance.
However, while the world knows that the 135-pound King is in desperate need of a statement, the bout is just as crucial for his German opponent.
The gifted athlete excelled in his amateur career, winning a bronze medal for his country at the 2016 Olympic Games.
Subsequently, he joined the pro-ranks with enormous expectations on his shoulders. However, he’s yet to reach the dazzling heights his nation expected of him.
After compiling a 12-0 record, he suffered his first defeat at the hands of Frank Martin, who recently suffered a loss himself against ‘Tank’ Davis.
Therefore, with ‘The Orginal’ yet to claim the world title he so desperately craves, he’s going to put it all on the line to relieve Stevenson of his crown. But, while crafting a game plan to defeat the masterful fighter is one thing, executing it on the night is an entirely different kettle of fish.