Shakur Stevenson felt the wrath of criticism over his unentertaining victory in elevating to WBC lightweight champion in November.
Now he says it’s payback time.
New Jersey’s Stevenson (21-0, 10 KOs) confirmed to Boxing Scene Tuesday that he’ll return to the ring July 6 at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., against a yet-to-be-named opponent for his first lightweight title defense.
“I’m coming to make a statement and whip ass,” said Stevenson, a three-division champion. “They’re never playing me again. I’m not a person to be played with.”
Stevenson, an extraordinary tactician and elusive wonder, leaned on those skills to defeat Edwin De Los Santos in a Nov. 17 main-event bout in Las Vegas, which drew boos for its inactivity.
Neither fighter landed more than nine punches in a single round, and De Los Santos was subdued by Stevenson’s evasive brilliance, landing a CompuBox record-low 40 punches over the 12 rounds.
The backlash over that triumph, combined with other foes turning away from Stevenson to fight alternative opponents, festered in the young champion. Stevenson announced his retirement from the sport in late January, posting on X, “I’m officially retiring from the sport of boxing. I’ll be in the gym forever perfecting my craft and helping the next generation become great and chase (their) dreams, but I ain’t (messing with) this weak boxing game.”
Less than two weeks later, the former U.S. Olympic silver medalist reconsidered, plotting a return.
And in his conversation with Boxing Scene, he said he understands that while his gifts in the ring may not always equate to knockouts, he knows the way he can most dazzle and thrill his fan base.
“I’ll be my sensational self and whip ass,” Stevenson said. “I’m the best fighter in boxing. I know that.”
Following discussions with his mentors, No. 1 pound-for-pound fighter Terence ‘Bud’ Crawford and retired Hall of Fame two-division champion Andre Ward, Stevenson said he’s approaching the July 6 bout with vigor, believing the showing will generate the string of big-name fights he craves.
Dan Rafael on Substack’s “Fight Freaks Unite,” first reported Stevenson’s return date and venue.
“I just gotta kick my way through the door [toward major events], and that’s going to happen starting July 6,” Stevenson told Boxing Scene. “I’m so excited about it.
“The stuff I’ve been working on originally is special … Bud knows. He told me in the last fight, ‘Go out there and box and win,’ and I did. Now, I’ll be taking the same advice and turning it way up.”
