It’s a close-knit band. A band of brothers. Terence Crawford, Andre Ward, and Shakur Stevenson. In many ways, they represent the past, present, and future of boxing. Ward was Stevenson’s manager when he made his professional debut in 2017. And guiding Stevenson through the ups and downs of his career, Crawford has been the perennial big brother. The bond of mutual admiration and respect among the three is widely recognized. It all starts in the ring, where they recognize each other’s greatness.

Shakur Stevenson has long been under fire for his fighting style. Even the ninth-round drubbing of Josh Padley fell short of convincing the skeptics. Standing at the forefront, Gervonta Davis joins those who believe Stevenson’s résumé needs a significant boost. Despite Stevenson calling him out, the Baltimorean has remained noncommittal. Maybe he should listen to what Crawford said about Stevenson’s exceptional skills. Davis doesn’t share the best of the equation with Crawford. Perhaps after listening to the former undisputed champion, he may want to rethink his stance.

Shakur Stevenson: In a league of his own

During an interview with The Ring, Terence Crawford shared his views about the stacked lightweight division. With Shakur Stevenson wearing the WBC belt and the likes of Gervonta Davis, Vasyl Lomachenko, and Keyshawn Davis joining the championship roster, the division is a hotbed of immense talent. However, if asked to choose the best, Stevenson is Crawford’s obvious pick.

“He’s a great fighter. These fighters can’t beat him,” he insisted. In the current generation, perhaps no other boxer/fighter knows and understands the sweet science better than Terence Crawford. It’s something Oleksandr Usyk frequently acknowledges. According to the heavyweight champion, Crawford is the best boxer of the era.

That’s why his discerning eyes can easily identify special talents – like the one his little brother possesses. “He’s unnatural. He has his own style. There’s no fighter in history that has a style like Shakur Stevenson,” he told The Ring magazine.

Gervonta Davis, Is this on your radar?

It’s not the first time Crawford heaped praises on Shakur Stevenson. A month ago, he joined Stevenson to watch close associate Keyshawn Davis’ title fight with Denys Berinchyk. During the post-fight interaction with media, he stated that in the current lineup, he foresaw only Keyshawn Davis and Shakur Stevenson capable of defeating Gervonta Davis.

When asked about a potential title unification at 135 pounds, he said that Gervonta Davis knows “what he is up against when he fights Shakur or Keyshawn.” Throwing a sweeping shot at the Baltimorean who has been frequently criticized for fighting sub-par opponents, Crawford said that those kinds of fighters do not have the mental makeup to last tough exchanges. Hence, “Them two guys (Shakur and Keyshawn) right there, you know what I mean, is going to be the ones that, you know, give him (Tank) his first ‘L,'” claimed Crawford.

Shakur Stevenson certainly doesn’t need anyone’s validation. Despite his resume lacking big names, Stevenson has consistently showcased his brilliant skills. With extraordinary defensive techniques and a ring IQ capable of troubling even the best sluggers, he poses a serious threat to the current roster. After the Lamont Roach debacle, if Gervonta Davis truly wants to elevate his career before his suggested retirement, fighting Shakur Stevenson could cement his legacy in boxing history.

What about you? Do you also agree with Terence Crawford’s statements about Shakur Stevenson?