No matter how hard Shakur Stevenson tries, criticism always find its way back to him. Well, the lightweight champion has been calling out Gervonta Davis to fight for quite some time. But Davis remained noncommittal to any engagement with Stevenson. Instead, the Baltimorean is questioning Stevenson’s resume with a standard rebuttal.

But given how the latest fight with Lamont Roach Jr. ended, Davis finds himself in a tough spot. A rematch with Roach Jr. could end speculations over his performance. Or maybe a fight with Stevenson could help increase his hype before the purported retirement. While Davis remains undecided, the barrage of censures continues for Stevenson. Now, Keith Thurman has joined his critics as well.

It’s been over three years since Keith Thurman stepped into the ring. Putting an end to the long wait, the former two-division titleholder returns tomorrow in a ten-round headliner against Brock Jarvis in Sydney’s Hordern Pavilion.

Reflecting on his journey and comeback with FightHype‘s Jeff Zimmerman, Thurman gave us a honest assessment of Stevenson’s record. But before we get there, let’s discuss the Stevenson’s answer to this assessment. It didn’t take much time before the critique caught Stevenson’s attention. And it wasn’t a response one would have expected either.

Shakur Stevenson’s level-headed reaction to a scathing review

Keith Thurman’s remarks could have easily provoked Stevenson. Instead, the Newark native took a different path. “I’m a fan of Keith Thurman; ion take it personal,” Shakur Stevenson responded to Thurman’s criticism. He acknowledged Keith Thurman’s opinion without taking any offense. Drawing a parallel between their careers, Stevenson pointed out that both have faced struggles in getting opportunities in boxing.

“But we both know what it’s like to not get opportunities in the sport of boxing…” said the Newark-born champion. Implying that he’ll prove himself soon, Shakur Stevenson remains optimistic: My time coming 🦾.”

The debate over Stevenson’s resume isn’t news to the boxing world. But, Keith Thurman has also faced similar criticism before his fight with Errol Spence Jr. So is Stevenson also one fight away from proving his worth?

Jeff Zimmerman of FightHype brought up this exact scenario while discussing the Lamont Roach fight. “If that fight still happens, how does that go? Does the shine go off Tank because of what happened against Lamont or the familiarity he had? Maybe it was closer than a lot of people even thought it would be,” said Zimmerman.

So, what exactly did Thurman say that ignited this response from Stevenson?

The resume could use more high-profile victories

Continuing the same discussion, Jeff Zimmerman asked Thurman, “Give me a take on Shakur real quick.” As if urging Shakur Stevenson to double up, Keith Thurman promptly responded, “I still think Shakur hasn’t beaten people like Tank. I mean, Shakur hasn’t even been in with Isaac Cruz. Come on, I really—I—I—I get it on some boxing-level stuff, but I really don’t get it, I don’t. Do something, bro.”

Implying that Stevenson hasn’t been tested against truly dangerous opponents, he questioned Stevenson’s experience in ‘the fire.’ Keith Thurman acknowledged Stevenson’s boxing ability. But he doesn’t see Stevenson as ‘the nicest’ or the best in the division. Stevenson needs to prove himself against opponents who can “drop bombs” and push him to the limit, Thurman suggested.

Contrasting his own situation against Errol Spence Jr., where he and Spence had accomplished enough to warrant the fight, Thurman added, “I don’t ever think about him and Tank. I don’t know what you guys do, and I don’t even really know why. I think it’s just some, like, some fantasy football. I don’t really think it’s real.”

“I don’t think he’s done a lot. I mean, just one good one on the resume. I would like two good names on the resume before stepping to Tank,” Thurman insisted.

Thurman isn’t alone in his opinion. Many in the boxing world feel the same concerns as he does. Perhaps the frequent criticisms stem from the fact that barring a few well-known names such as Oscar Valdez or Robson Conceicao, Shakur Stevenson’s record barely displays bouts with other A-listers.

On the other hand, Gervonta Davis has earned some serious bragging rights after his fights against Isaac Cruz and Ryan Garcia. Yes, Davis’ fight with Roach dented his record, but it doesn’t diminish his pull as one of boxing’s biggest draws.

The shadow boxing over the Stevenson-Davis matchup continues. Uncertainty persists. Perhaps a win over a prominent contender may help Stevenson silence the naysayers and convince Team Davis to consider his offer?

What are your thoughts on Keith Thurman’s viewpoints? Does Shakur Stevenson’s resume genuinely lack depth?