Roy Jones Jr on Why Shakur Stevenson is This Era’s Floyd Mayweather

Shakur Stevenson (25-0, 11 KOs) is fresh off a victory, with the welterweight world title to show for it. However, it seems this victory has given him far more than the title; Roy Jones Jr.’s performance impressed him so much that he was reminded of a prime Floyd Mayweather.

Speaking with Fight Hub TV, the hall of famer stood firm in his narrative that Stevenson mirrors Mayweather in a few ways that are certain but often overlooked.

“He is,” he said without any hesitation. “Because he isn’t taking many chances, he isn’t giving guys no chance to beat him.”

Jones’ words undoubtedly hold weight; both Mayweather and Stevenson are extremely calculative when it comes to their ring craft. They are similar in the way they treat boxing as a science rather than a fight driven by emotion. In fact, their fights are resplendent examples of a style that relies heavily on defensive mastery, distance control, and ring IQ instead of reckless exchanges. Moreover, they are immensely cautious in the ring, giving their opponents little chance to land shots.

However, there is one aspect in which both fighters differ in their approach. Unlike Mayweather, Stevenson has been facing every opponent that comes his way, while the former has been more focused on protecting his record.

“The difference is he’s fighting everybody. He’s not ducking and dodging; he’s fighting everybody. That’s a little different. He can be Floyd Mayweather as far as not being beat in this era, but he’s a little different because he’s willing to take on the biggest challenges,” he said.

“I Would Kill You”

Meanwhile, it is not all sunshine and roses for Stevenson. The comments he made during his recent appearance on Adin Ross’ podcast have sparked backlash from many in the MMA community. Notably, he had mentioned boxing, and they aren’t close when it comes to the skills involved. Joaquin Buckley quickly took to social media to voice his disapproval.

“You boxers are so disrespectful towards us athletes, bro. Shakur, I’m on you,” he said. “If we came outside where I am right now, I could kill you. I’m not saying I want to kill you or want to take you off this earth, but realistically, I would kill you if we fought.”

Joshua Ben Joseph

Joshua Ben Joseph is a Boxing writer renowned for his unparalleled coverage of live events and insightful interviews with prominent athletes in the world of combat sports. With a career spanning over several years, he has authored more than 800 articles. As an experienced editorial cartoonist and investigative journalist, Joshua has a keen eye for detail and a passion for delivering quality content. Aside from his writing, Joshua is an avid powerlifter and solo traveler, embodying the same spirit of determination and exploration that he brings to his work. With a deep love for the sport of boxing that dates back to childhood, he is committed to delivering the highest quality content and helping to build a more transparent and credible industry.

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