If you try to list the Fabulous Four in modern boxing, only factoring in stars who might hold a grip on the sport for a long time, Shakur Stevenson has a strong case. He has an unblemished record and shrewd but esteemed technical prowess. What’s more? The American boxer has enough gold to show for it. You might want to credit his family for his success inside the squared circle, which stood strongly behind him as he threw punches at opponents inside the ring and handled life’s jabs outside of it.

Stevenson, 27, has had a complex upbringing where his close relations with his 8 siblings defined his life. However, his parents remained upbeat about his dedication to boxing and supported him throughout his amateur and professional journey. So, who are they? Let’s find it.

Meet the parents of Shakur Stevenson: Where are they from?

‘Sugar’ shares a close bond with his mother, Malikah Stevenson, who raised him with love and care in Newark, while his biological father, Alfredo Rivera, was absent during his formative years. His father was incarcerated, and the burden of raising him fell on his mother. While the two reconnected when he was 16, they couldn’t spark a connection. But as he made a rapid surge in the boxing world, the bond between the two remained the same. “He’s still a sweetheart,” the Stevenson family matriarch declared once.

Interestingly, the lightweight boxer is of Puerto Rican descent because of his biological father, which he has talked about at length in recent years. However, because of his father’s absence, he couldn’t delve deep into Puerto Rican heritage and culture. Soon, Shahid Guyton would fill the role of a father in his life and would eventually turn his own life around, watching his son’s dedication to boxing.

Did you know that Stevenson’s commitment to boxing inspired Guyton to live out his “dream,” and after some “trials and tribulations with the streets,” he would earn a GED, and pick up a job in behavioral health technology? That’s not it. Guyton would later graduate from a community college.

The Newark native’s parents hold a special place in his heart and life, as they supported him. But it was his grandfather, Wali Moses, who nudged him into the world of boxing. His grandfather is also a boxing coach to date and supports him in his corner. When Stevenson was 5, he met some of his grandfather’s boxing disciples, and the rest, as we know, is history. The former super featherweight champion would reach the pinnacle of popularity, amassing an Olympic silver medal and a couple of title straps, too. But, as you know, fame comes with its downsides.

What happened to Shakur Stevenson’s mother?

When Stevenson cruised to a victory against Oscar Valdez in 2022 and added the WBC super featherweight title to his waist, it was a night of festivities. But those festivities soon turned sour when the post-fight press conference came to an unexpected halt. The reason? Two women had attacked his mother, Malikah.

ESPN’s Mike Coppinger had reported the incident to boxing fans as he disclosed that two women had attacked Malikah, but he himself wasn’t aware of what triggered such a reaction. Luckily, the situation diffused without any major harm, safety hazards, or scars. The 21-0 record holder’s family was safe and sound, and the fans took a sigh of relief, too.

Is Stevenson’s brother also a boxing star?

Did Stevenson’s laurels in boxing inspire any of his siblings to take up boxing? Is he the only boxer in the family? For a while, Stevenson’s younger brother used to box, but the latter got involved in a fight, and later on, he would quit.

He declared, “I’m the only boxer in my family. My little brother used to box before. But he had a fight where he thought he got robbed and after he got robbed, he quit.” It would have been amusing to witness one of his siblings share the same fight card and put on a show on the same night, before the same crowd.

Were you aware of such details about Shakur Stevenson and his family? Do you have any interesting stories to share about the boxer? Let us know in the comments below.