The upcoming showdown between Shakur Stevenson and Floyd Schofield Jr. on February 22, 2025, in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, for the WBC Lightweight Championship has garnered significant attention. This fight will take place on the undercard of the much-anticipated Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev rematch. In a recent interview at the Ring Magazine Awards event, the WBC lightweight champion expressed his confidence ahead of the match, telling Seconds Out on the red carpet, “I’m ready for the belt. Pull the belt up.” While Shakur Stevenson already holds a WBC strap, he’s hungry for more, stating his desire for additional titles to solidify his legacy.

However, the conversation quickly turned to Gervonta Davis. When asked about the potential roadblock between him and the Baltimore native to secure a fight, Stevenson confidently replied to Seconds Out, “The money is out there. Me and Tank is the biggest fight in the world. I don’t think there’s a bigger fight than me and Tank across the world. Not just America. So the money is there. Let’s make it happen.” So what’s holding the talks back? In a new interview, Shakur Stevenson gave his reasons for why he thinks the negotiations aren’t happening.

Shakur Stevenson confused by Gervonta Davis’ stance

Stevenson appeared in an interview with Dev Sahni from Queensberry Promotions to discuss his upcoming fight with Floyd Schofield Jr. He referred to Schofield as the “little kid,” reminding fans of the 5-year gap between them. When the conversation shifted to Gervonta Davis, Stevenson’s tone became pointed. “I thought that was the fight. The big fight. I’ve been telling people hundreds of times that it’s gonna either be me or him,” Stevenson said, showing his belief that a clash with Davis was inevitable. However, when asked if he thinks Davis wants to fight him, Stevenson admitted, “Sometimes I do, and then some days I don’t.”

Stevenson then added, “I remember watching interviews where he says he’s going to come get me, and I am on his list. And then he’s like, ‘What has Shakur done for boxing? Who is he…?’ He seems very bipolar.” Stevenson’s frustration with Davis’ inconsistent statements appears to be growing. Why? Because Gervonta Davis has waffled between expressing interest in a fight and dismissing Stevenson’s abilities later.

So, dissecting the situation further, one can say that, if Stevenson wins his upcoming bout, the possibility of a showdown with Gervonta Davis for the unified Lightweight titles becomes increasingly likely, but Stevenson’s doubts about Tank’s commitment to the fight could become a key factor in negotiations. But what’s more interesting is, that even though the Newark native seems pessimistic about the chances of a fight between them happening, Mike Tyson already thinks that a fight between the two is not only inevitable but also necessary. Why?

Mike Tyson gave his opinion on the ‘biggest fight in the world’

Shakur Stevenson has faced criticism in the past for his defensive style of fighting, notably following his victory over Edwin De Los Santos and Artem Harutyunyan, with many labeling his performance as “boring” due to his defensive style. Rapper Mase voiced his displeasure with Stevenson’s style on his podcast, which led to a fiery response from the WBC champion.

In an episode a few weeks ago, Mike Tyson joined Mase and Camron Giles on their podcast, ‘It Is What It Is’. Here, Iron Mike spoke on several topics including the much-anticipated clash between Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. The first topic that the boxing legend touched upon was the criticisms that Shakur had been receiving and more importantly his reaction to it.

Tyson provided sage advice to Shakur, stating, “If you can’t handle criticism, get out of the game.” This is when the conversation turned to the potential showdown between Stevenson and Tank. Here, Tyson did not mince words. He believed that Davis’ aggressive fighting style would test Stevenson in ways that no one else has been able to until now.

“Wow, that’s a good fight. I’m going with Tank. It would be a very interesting fight. To bring out the best in Shakur, you gotta pressure him like Tank. Tank will bring out the best in him. Tank is just a monster,” Mike Tyson predicted boldly.

The world of boxing is buzzing with anticipation as we look ahead to the potential showdown between Shakur Stevenson and Gervonta Davis. With Stevenson focused on securing another title, and Gervonta Davis still dillydallying about fighting Shakur, many are left wondering whether the biggest fight in boxing will ever happen.

Will Gervonta Davis finally step up to fight the best? Can Shakur Stevenson rise to the occasion and prove that he is truly the top lightweight in the world? And most importantly, will Mike Tyson’s prediction of the fight be proven right? Do share your thoughts below!