Just as in reel-life, perhaps, in real-life too, the reality was hidden till ‘The Matrix’ lasted. In the battle of the southpaws, as things stand, Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson remain the last men standing. Over a year after he returned to the ring, the Baltimorean didn’t take much time to prove why he is one of the ‘faces of boxing’. In a trademark style, he dispatched Frank Martin at the MGM Grand last month. A lightweight champion since 2019, it was time to aim for a bigger target. A title unification? But that meant crossing paths with fellow champions Vasyl Lomachenko, Shakur Stevenson, and Denis Berinchyk.

As days moved, talks of a fight with the Ukrainian Olympic gold medalist gained strength. But sadly, the hype didn’t last long. The latter, as reports suggest, decided to sit back and reportedly spend time with the family. For sure, it left the boxing world and the fans bewildered. But time did not permit the indulgence of outrage for long. Enter the Newark-born Southpaw. It appears the green light has been met with a reciprocal move. Time to move on for a fight everyone longed for.

A Bout for the Ages: Gervonta Davis vs. Shakur Stevenson 

Boxing Kingdom shared a message that both the Gervonta Davis and Shakur Stevenson teams have been showing positive vibes for a potential fight in the future. “The two have sparred hundreds of rounds over recent years, including one 20-minute round in a Baltimore Gym, in 2017,” it read further.

Fans might as well go back to Frank Martin post-fight presser. Remember what Gervonta Davis said when asked about a fight against Shakur Stevenson? It looks like a thing of the past now. Speaking at ‘Mill City Boxing,’ even his longtime trainer Kenny Ellis sounded quite hopeful that a match against the Rio Olympics silver medalist seems the next logical step following the ‘Loma’ fallout.

Now done with his first title defense since he became a light weight champion last year, Shakur Stevenson is also on the lookout for the next big catch. Banters and exchanges, going back to the sparring days, remain a fact. But that can be overlooked to pull in a fight that’s on every boxing fan’s bucket list.

Explaining the magnitude of the potential fight with Gervonta Davis, he reportedly said, “That’s like the biggest fight in the world, if we are really thinking about it. Every hood in America is going to want to watch that fight. It’s going to be a tremendous fight. That’s the biggest and best fight to make in boxing. That’s the game plan for me and the end goal.” Then fans can never forget how the Baltimorean has inked his Newark-born colleague’s name in the now famous ‘hit list’. There’s a time and place for everything, perhaps.

No doubt, stylistically, the fight between the two champions makes up for probably one of the best matchups of recent times. But how does it proceed, and also will the fans never get to see the ‘Tank’-‘Loma’ fight ever?

Beyond the Hype: The Uncharted Territory and the Challenges

As much as both sides appear to be getting together to follow through with a fight, the fact remains that Shakur Stevenson is no longer tied to a promotion. He is now a free agent. The June 6 fight against Artem Harutyunyan was the last he fought under Top Rank. Therefore, complications such as purse guarantee, coverage of various expenses, broadcasting rights, sponsorship, and marketing deals are a few of the matters the sides will have to take cognizance of.

Even Shakur Stevenson has, in the past, expressed an interest in fighting ‘The Matrix’. So win or lose, both ‘Tank’ and him can perhaps go back to Lomachenko next year. They can have a shot for either title unification, in the winner’s case, or a fresh championship win, for the loser. The Ukrainian champion also probably knows that he doesn’t have many days left in the sport. Proving all doubters wrong, he became a three-division champion this year. So a fight against either Gervonta Davis or Shakur Stevenson by next year makes all the more sense for his legacy.

What is your take on the Gervonta Davis-Shakur Stevenson matchup? Is it the right time to proceed or wait a bit longer?