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via Imago

via Imago

Shakur Stevenson couldn’t stay away for too long. Just weeks after declaring his retirement from boxing on social media, Shakur Stevenson surprised fans with an announcement of his return. This declaration was accompanied by the hashtag ‘chasing greatness.’ While the initial retirement claim was met with skepticism, Stevenson’s apparent reversal might not resonate well with fans.

Currently, the opponent is unknown, but the tentative timeframe for Stevenson’s next bout has been revealed. Many fans even called him out for not staying adamant about his words, but Stevenson blamed it on his immense love for the sport. Furthermore, Bob Arum is already on the lookout for an opponent, and Stevenson has now also revealed the time of his return.

Shakur Stevenson will pick up the gloves again

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Frustrated by the backlash from his performance against Edwin De Los Santos and the difficulty in securing fights against notable opponents like Gervonta Davis and Emmanuel Navarrete, Shakur Stevenson declared his retirement. The culmination of these challenges prompted the American boxer to step away from the ring. But now he’s ready to make a comeback, and it’ll be something that will also redeem his poor performance against Edwin De Los Santos.

In an X post, Stevenson stated that he’s ready to take a fight against anyone and anybody, and it’ll be sometime around June when he steps inside the ring yet again. After hearing this news, a fan stated that it hadn’t even been a month since his retirement. Stevenson stated that he loves the sport so much that he “couldn’t keep myself away from it.

In another post, the fan said that it will be eight months of hiatus before he actually steps inside the ring. Stevenson mentioned that he wanted it to be early, but things don’t work out as per one’s choices sometimes.

Furthermore, Stevenson’s manager, Bob Arum, has also talked about the next opponent for Stevenson, and he doesn’t want it to turn out like his last bout.

Bob Arum expects more from Stevenson

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Securing a high-profile opponent for Shakur Stevenson’s next match, despite owning the WBC lightweight title, presents a challenge. Stevenson’s cautious strategy against Edwin De Los Santos in a 12-round, 135-pound title fight at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas may have impacted his market value. The southpaw boxer’s approach in that bout, marked by a unanimous decision victory on November 16, raised concerns about his fighting style. This put forward potential complications in the efforts to arrange compelling matchups.

Furthermore, Bob Arum said, “I think that Shakur had to fight the fight he did because I think he had some injuries, that kinda thing.” He revealed that they even took him to a doctor ahead of the bout, and for that reason, he was extra cautious during the fight. He also added, “But it was a stinker. It was a snoozer, and particularly after the fight before [a 12-round majority draw between Emanuel Navarrete and Robson Conceicao], which was one of the best fights of the year.

Read More: Shakur Stevenson Joins the “Scripted” Rally Against Super Bowl LVIII After Chiefs vs 49ers Tie in Regular Time

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So, it’s to be seen how Arum will decide to steer the career path for Shakur Stevenson now, moving forward. Especially when he’s announced a comeback in June 2024. What are your thoughts about this? Tell us in the comments section.

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