Shakur Stevenson Hints at Breaking Ties With Bob Arum’s Top Rank

Shakur Stevenson is at a crossroads. The American fighter is a flourishing star but has seen his reputation take a hit after his last fight. After moving up to lightweight, he is looking at another critical career decision. The WBC champion wants free will and total control over how he steers his career. And this desire could lead to him dismantling his existing ties.

‘Sugar’ recently fought Edwin De Los Santos in a snooze fest and bagged the WBC lightweight strap. Fans and pundits alike have blasted him for a dismal performance, and his stocks have plunged. While the 26-year-old needs to turn around his fortunes and have a repair job in his hands, he is ready to bid farewell to Bob Arum.

Shakur Stevenson’s partnership with Bob Arum might end soon

The Newark native turned to his X handle and dropped a hint of his next route. Notably, he fights under Bob Arum‘s Top Rank and will run his contract this year. Before he signs a new contract with Top Rank or goes to a rival promotion, he is also considering the charm of free agency.

In the post, Stevenson, at 21-0, wrote, “Free Agent Season this year [two eyes emojis].”

Stevenson has in the past expressed his interest in talking to other promoters and weighing his options before making a last call. While he believed the money wouldn’t sway him, business would. More importantly, he wants the coveted match with Gervonta Davis, which might be possible if he makes the switch to Al Haymon‘s PBC. Before that, he has one fight left. A rematch with Edwin De Los Santos for his redemption.

Stevenson aims to correct his wrongs

When the three-division champion fought Edwin De Los Santos last year, he put on a lackluster performance in the square circle. The fight set an unfortunate record for the least punches thrown in a 12-round championship contest. Neither boxer landed double-digit strikes in any round. Stevenson had an awful night, to which he agrees.

In a recent interview, he said, “All the greats have off nights. From Koby to Michael Jordan [and] Tom Brady, everybody has off nights.” Stevenson has tentatively agreed to fight Edwin De Los Santos to shed the criticism of his last fight. But it’s not sure whether the fans would like to witness a rematch.

Read More: “From Kobe to Michael Jordan, Tom Brady, Everybody Has”: After Facing Months of Criticism for Edwin de la Santos Fight, Shakur Stevenson Hits Back, Leaving a Message for Young Fighters

What do you make of this fresh development related to Shakur Stevenson? Do you think free agency is what his career needs right now? Let us know in the comments below.

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