Earlier this year, Shakur Stevenson made it clear that he is the B-side in his quest for a fight with Gervonta Davis. He let Davis know that he was not going to try to get the upper hand in the negotiations for their showdown, simply saying, “Let’s fight.” This came after ‘Tank’ has repeatedly turned down a fight with Stevenson, questioning his resume. Just a few months back, he was quoted as saying, “What has Shakur done? What has he done in the sport? He hasn’t done nothing. Keyshawn Davis is looking way better than him,” when asked about a potential face-off with Stevenson. Not only this, he has often criticized his fighting style, saying he “don’t have no offense.” Hence, it may have surprised even Stevenson when a member of Davis’ team was complimentary of the boxer’s ability and potential.

With Davis set for a rematch against Lamont Roach Jr., his long-anticipated showdown with Stevenson remains uncertain. It’s a fight Stevenson eagerly awaits. But if Davis declines, who’s next? Having called out Teofimo Lopez, the Newark southpaw seems open to moving up a division. Within 130 pounds, a bout with close friend Keyshawn Davis is unlikely, leaving Vasyl Lomachenko as the most viable option. However, Team Lomachenko seems more interested in a fight with Tank.

The March 12 episode of Mill City Boxing featured a recorded interview with Vasyl Lomachenko’s manager, Egis Klimas with The Ring. When asked whether Lomachenko would prefer to face Stevenson or Devin Haney upon his return, Klimas, who also manages heavyweight legend Oleksandr Usyk, stated that a fight with Davis would be more exciting. He reasoned that Davis engages more, whereas Stevenson is defensive and elusive.

“Shakur, I’m not gonna take anything from Shakur. Shakur is a very good fighter but he’s a bumper. He goes in a shell, he runs away. Tank comes to fight. [It’s a] more interesting fight,” said Klimas.  The host then asked Davis’s trainer, Kenny Ellis, for his thoughts on Klimas’ statement.

The trainer agreed with ‘Loma’s manager. “I think him [Loma] and Tank would be a more interesting fight because something big is going to happen, you know what I mean? Um, people probably rather see that than him and Shakur,” he said. However, stylistically, he felt that Shakur Stevenson would have an obvious upper hand over Lomachenko and even backed the Newark, New Jersey native.

“I think right now if he got in the ring with Shakur, I think Shakur would beat him,” Ellis said. This show of confidence bodes from Davis’s camp in Stevenson’s abilities bodes well for their much-awaited clash down the line.

He compared their defensive styles and stated why Stevenson would prevail. “Both of them got defense, they got two different kind of defenses, though. Shakur got like a long counter-punching defense, but Loma has this engaging defense, angles, blocking, and coming forward defense. So right now, I think Shakur gets him. It’s my opinion though,” he added.

Lomachenko has shown signs of slowing down. He starts fights cautiously, allowing opponents to accumulate early rounds. In recent bouts, such as the ones against Teofimo Lopez and Devin Haney, he was forced to play catch-up late in the fight. Stevenson, who is known for his tactical discipline, would capitalize on this tendency. He will force Lomachenko to be more aggressive. But that will only make the Ukrainian champion more vulnerable.

Notably, Lomanchenko and Stevenson got into a verbal altercation last year at the BMO Stadium in Los Angeles, before Terrance Crawford’s fight against Israil Madrimov. The two had to be separated by security as they exchanged verbal jabs. Since then, the possibility of a fight between the two has been discussed.

Meanwhile, Jamel Herring, who fought Stevenson in 2021, echoed Ellis’ thoughts about Shakur Stevenson.

“Shakur is going to rack up those rounds, and then it’s gonna get to a point he’s gonna frustrate you. He’s going to make you come to him and open it up,” the former world champion stressed. Given Lomachenko’s recent defensive lapses and Davis’s explosive power, it could be a dangerous matchup for the Ukrainian.

From a business standpoint, Lomachenko’s team may see it as a lucrative option while his name still carries weight. There’s speculation that Lomachenko’s team might push for a fight soon while his name still holds weight. However, as of now, his immediate or future plans remain uncertain. As for Shakur Stevenson, the praise from a member of Gervonta Davis’ camp only reinforces to many fans why a showdown with ‘Tank’ would be so compelling.

Do you agree with Kenny Ellis’s views on Shakur Stevenson’s skills?