“No one can outdo Shakur. I’m asserting that Shakur beats everyone. It doesn’t matter who it is; Shakur will prevail. That’s just how it is.”
Terence Crawford
has always supported
Shakur Stevenson
, his former training partner and close friend. However, opinions differ, particularly from
Rolando ‘Rolly’ Romero
, who recently cautioned UFC chief
Dana White
about the Newark native.
This month’s Cinco de Mayo weekend promised exciting boxing action but ended in disappointment as fighters like
Devin Haney
,
Ryan Garcia
,
Canelo Alvarez
, and William Scull
fell short, leading many to criticize the sport’s dullness. Amid these events, Rolando Romero gained attention by defeating Garcia in an unexpected upset.
After his win, Romero criticized slow fighters, including WBC lightweight champion Shakur Stevenson. ‘Sugar’ has often faced backlash for his defensive style, often avoiding conflict and racking up points without engaging. With Dana White planning to launch a new boxing league in collaboration with Turki Alalshikh and the TKO Group in 2026, Romero seems to have warned White against signing Stevenson.
While on the Pound 4 Pound podcast with
Kamaru Usman
&
Henry Cejudo
, Romero was questioned about Stevenson’s next matchup. His response was blunt:
“I don’t think he should fight ever again because he just bores the fans and he’s not contributing anything exciting to the sport…”
He further exclaimed,
“Kick him out of f**king boxing, he’s terrible.”
To reinforce his view, Romero posed a question to Usman and Cejudo.
“Do you think Dana would tolerate Shakur’s style?”
Romero asked assertively, turning to Cejudo for affirmation. Before Usman could respond, Romero emphasized,
“He’d be the first to be removed from the UFC. Right or wrong?”
Usman argued that the UFC thrives on exciting matches, which are fundamental to its promotional success.
“Their boxing league is also an entertainment venture,”
Romero replied.
“So he isn’t doing the sport any favors. So, kick him out.”
Notably, Dana White has criticized dull UFC bouts and prefers fighters who bring an exciting style, which could jeopardize Stevenson’s chances of joining the new boxing league, despite his potential reluctance due to lower pay.
Even with Romero’s harsh critiques, Stevenson stands firm in his beliefs.
Shakur Stevenson Considers Himself the Top Fighter
Shakur Stevenson is confident in his standing within the boxing world. The undefeated WBC lightweight champion boldly stated,
“I am the best fighter in the world when it comes to boxing,”
in an interview with Seconds Out. As other top boxers like Terence Crawford, Naoya Inoue, Oleksandr Usyk, and Canelo Alvarez often top pound-for-pound lists, Stevenson is determined to see his name at the top.
Earlier this year in Saudi Arabia, he showcased his skill by stopping the previously unbeaten Josh Padley in the ninth round. Though he is known for his high self-expectations, Stevenson couldn’t hide his satisfaction after the victory, stating,
“I did what I needed to do; I didn’t complicate things.”
This decisive victory over Padley marks another highlight in his growing legacy.
Despite Romero’s negative views on Stevenson, the latter is confident in his abilities, raising questions about the potential future interactions between him and UFC’s Dana White.
