Snoozefest instead of a slugfest. That’s how fans, pundits, and fighters have summed up the latest outing by Shakur Stevenson. It appears his trash-talking got the best of him, and that was the extent of his aggression. While ‘Sugar’ left the T-Mobile Arena with the lightweight strap, it was a performance not worthy of champion caliber. He flopped on the biggest stage, and thus, lingering questions popped up. Should his name be taken in the same breath as Gervonta Davis and Devin Haney? Is Stevenson trying to bite more than he can chew?

“I had a bad performance tonight. That’s all I’m focused on. I wasn’t feeling too good. I’ll live with it. It’s okay. I came here, got the victory, and that’s all I wanted to do,” the American boxer expressed after collecting a disappointing win against Edwin De Los Santos on Thursday night. Despite him walking away with the WBC lightweight title, his lightweight run has met a reality check. Should the lightweight boxer chase the coveted fights, or must he sit out for a while before he dreams big again?

How much damage has Shakur Stevenson’s lackluster performance done?

The numbers tell a startling story. The 26-year-old, now a three-division titleholder, only landed 19 power punches and 44 jabs throughout the fight. Further, he failed to land double-digit punches in any of the rounds. When Devin Haney and Ryan Garcia slammed Stevenson for turning in a lackluster performance, many felt the criticism was apt.

Unsurprisingly, Stevenson’s dreadful performance has ensured his stocks will take a hit inside and outside the square circle. Notably, he recently signed a lucrative deal with Prime alongside Terence Crawford. In addition, he disappointed his brands and idols who were present in the stands. It affects his claims to become the face of boxing as well as his contract negotiations with Top Rank.

That was unlike the Newark native, now at 21-0, who has won 10 fights via knockout. However, his defensive and tactful approach has lost some fans, putting a dent in his fanbase. The boos echoed throughout the arena instead of applause. The fans forget it hard. Not only did Stevenson’s performance punch a hole in his star power, but it also took away his negotiating power. Will you set up a PPV event with a runner whose last fight lacked highlights?

The fleeting chances of Devin Haney clashing—dream fight for Shakur Stevenson collapses

Stevenson has locked horns with Haney and is chasing a showdown with him. The only way he could have attacked Haney’s attention was with a devastating KO, mystifying fans and promoters alike. But did it happen? No.

Haney is comfortable chasing a fight with Regis Prograis, making his stay in the 140-pound division permanent. ‘The Dream’ and Stevenson had a fallout over the purse split. Stevenson’s latest performance solidifies how Haney perceived him as a “bum”.

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“Should’ve offered this Bum 10% I was being too generous!” Haney lashed out at Stevenson. Should the bout be made? Yes. But now Stevenson will have to fight for short money. They will hold his performance against him. They will question his ability to sell arenas. Therefore, Haney holds all the cards while Stevenson sits on the table, broke. But what should he do next?

What should Shakur Stevenson do next? Pick a fight against Gervonta Davis or another top Lightweight contender

Bounce back strongly and viciously, hopefully with a knockout. But before picking any fight, Stevenson needs to fix his injury issues. He fought without being 100%.

The Gervonta Davis fight was on the cards before Stevenson left a bad taste in everyone’s mouth. However, every fighter has a bad day at the show. It happened to be Stevenson’s against Edwin De Los Santos. Before taking on any big fight next, he must iron out the recent doubts over his boxing skills. You shouldn’t be surprised if he takes a longer route and fights Vasiliy Lomachenko. Promoters and boxers should chase Stevenson, and the other way around if Stevenson has to become the undisputed lightweight champ.

What do you make of Shakur Stevenson’s latest performance against Edwin De Dos Santos? Do you believe he should reconsider his options now? Let us know in the comments below.

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