“Street People Who Talk to Him Don’t Understand”: Bob Arum Breaks Silence on Shakur Stevenson’s Accusations of Favoritism Towards Vasyl Lomachenko

Very few things attracted fans’ attention when Shakur Stevenson stood in the center of the ring against Artem Harutyunyan. However, one thing that amused them the most was his t-shirt with a print that read, “Bob is saving is son from his a**-whooping.” The American boxer had made his intentions clear: he wanted a big name that maybe Bob Arum‘s Top Rank failed to offer him.

The son that ‘Sugar’ referred to is Vasyl Lomachenko. The Ukrainian fighter has been a hot property since climbing back to the top after claiming the IBF title and is a name that Stevenson expected to match. However, that didn’t turn out to be the case. So, left bitter and grunting, Stevenson, 27, made his complaints loud and clear. Amidst all the drama, his former promoter, Arum, has painted a clear picture for him now.

In a conversation with FightsATW, the American promoter pointed out that other fighters had a say in negotiations and whom they wanted to fight. But Stevenson, at 22-0, had run a contrasting narrative. He continued, “He [Shakur Stevenson] paints a picture – everybody is a puppet but him, like I can make any fight I want.” What’s more?

The Top Rank lynchpin reasoned that “pals and strangers on the internet” didn’t serve the WBC champion, as they had their agendas and were not versed in the realities of hurdles in making big fights. He added, “He has some good people around him. But the ‘street’ people who talk to him don’t understand.”

The 92-year-old promoter, who has seen the age of Muhammad Ali, and Oscar De La Hoya, and is now grooming the next generation of top fighters as world champions, is aware of the vagaries of promotion. He had tabled a 5-fight, $15 million offer to Stevenson, but the Newark native didn’t take it. Maybe that’s the reason there is a gulf of interest between the two. That leaves him in a tight spot. What is a name that the 2016 Olympic medalist can target now?

Who fits the bill for Shakur Stevenson, if not Vasyl Lomachenko?

When your home crowd booed you, you didn’t have a night to remember. Despite turning in a strong performance, Stevenson couldn’t entertain his fans. Either he needs a big name, such as Lomachenko, or a fighter who boasts a fan-friendly style and doesn’t shy away from taking the fight to him. William Zepeda ticks all the boxes.

If Gervonta Davis and ‘The Matrix’, decide to run it, Stevenson would prefer Zepeda, whom he has labeled a “harder fight.” Will it help the former super featherweight champion’s stock and his ambition to stage an exciting fight? It remains to be seen.

What do you make of these comments by Bob Arum about Shakur Stevenson? Who do you think Stevenson should fight next? Let us know in the comments below.