Bob Arum Reveals Why Shakur Stevenson vs Vasyl Lomachenko Will Not Be Taking Place

Things didn’t take the route the former Featherweight champion Shakur Stevenson wanted them to take. In the beginning, he desired a bout against the undisputed Lightweight champion Devin Haney after his most recent controversial victory against Vasyl Lomachenko. Fans were brimming with excitement at the prospect of the fight which seemed all ready. However, it all soon fell apart after Stevenson didn’t agree to a 25 percent split.

All possible hopes of the fight materializing vanished when ‘the Dream’ announced his intention of moving up in weight classes. And now it seems like he will be facing Regis Prograis next. Soon, Stevenson shifted his focus to another contender- Lomachenko. However, even after repeated call-outs, the fight couldn’t be made. With Bob Arum’s recent statement, it seems that the fight is never going to materialize.

Bob Arum shatters hopes of Shakur Stevenson vs Vasyl Lomachenko bout

‘Sugar’ has been all over social media recently trying to goad Loma into getting in the ring with him. He has tried everything, he has been relentlessly shaming the Ukrainian boxer. The young boxer claimed that the 36-year-old is ‘ducking’ him even after being offered an exorbitant pay-day for the fight. In an interview with Steve Kim, boxing promoter Bob Arum claimed that it’s not about ducking Stevenson or the purse.

He claimed that the reason Lomachenko is not taking the fight is because of the ongoing conflict taking place in Ukraine. Arum stated, “Lomachenko is balking about fighting this year. He wants to take time off. The s**t situation is still going on in Ukraine and it’s come close to where he lives, with all the bombing of Odesa. So he really he can’t get focused on fighting. I don’t think it has anything to do with Shakur.” He further stated that they plan on getting Stevenson “fight for the WBC title”. Stevenson will be facing the highest contender for the vacant title.

Stevenson calls potential opponents out

It appears that this is the reason behind Stevenson’s recent tweet where he called out all potential opponents to get in the ring with him. In a recent tweet, the 26-year-old boxer boldly called out anyone interested in going toe-to-toe with him. He wrote, “Tell the rest of these mfs line up I’m ready for anybody idc who it is.”

Shakur still desires a bout against Haney as he had called him out daring him to return to 135 after the bout against Regis Prograis. Now that his plans of facing the former three-division world champion are out of the window, it remains to be seen, which fighter he will be fighting against.

Read More: “He’s Ducking Me”: Post The Devin Haney Fiasco, Shakur Stevenson Seemingly Shifts Focus to Vasyl Lomachenko

What do you think about Arum’s reason for Loma not facing Stevenson? Which fighter should Stevenson target next? Share your thoughts in the comments.

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