Shakur Stevenson has received backlash from a boxing legend for his comments about Sugar Ray Robinson.
Later tonight, the slick boxer will battle it out with William Zepeda at Louis Armstrong Stadium in Queens, New York, USA.
While on paper, his opponent appears to be the much heavier hitter, Stevenson says he has more power than Zepeda.
However, one world champion hasn’t been impressed by the finishing instincts the American has shown throughout his career, even more so now that the WBC lightweight champion has taken aim at an icon.
WOW: Sugar Ray Robinson got dropped in sparring after taking a ‘right hand to the jaw’
Barry McGuigan slams Shakur Stevenson for Sugar Ray Robinson comments
Barry McGuigan is livid about what Shakur Stevenson had to say about one of the best fighters to have ever laced up the gloves.
On an episode of the Cigar Talk Podcast, the 28-year-old claimed: “I YouTubed him, it was buns. Boxing has evolved. Sugar Ray Robinson didn’t even know how to pick his hands up! Go watch him fight Jake Lamotta, he was hitting [him] with nonstop hooks over and over. You ain’t never seen that with ‘Bud’ (Terence Crawford)”
This enraged the Irish sensation, who fired shots in the slick boxer’s direction.
In an opinion piece for the Daily Mirror, he raged: “If Stevenson flattens Zepeda, I might start listening. But I don’t see that happening. He’s all about easy headlines.
“Robinson does not need me to speak for him. He is, for many, the best of all time. What defines a fighter for me is skill, stamina, courage, and standing in the trenches when the punches are missing by millimetres and he is firing back.
“I’ve never seen Stevenson do that. He is not fit to lace Robinson’s boots and has not earned the right to b—- about an all-time great.
“Talk is cheap. So, bore off Shakur and come back when you have achieved half of what Sugar Ray did.”
Shakur Stevenson dominated one of the toughest fighters in boxing to win his second world title
It’s fair to say Stevenson isn’t renowned for producing spiteful performances.
However, on occasion, he has managed to create fireworks.
In an impressive display, Stevenson dominated one of boxing’s bravest fighters.