Paulie Malignaggi, boxing analyst, believes Gervonta ‘Tank’ Davis is swerving a unification combat towards WBC light-weight champion Shakur Stevenson.
Malignaggi was annoyed at listening to Tank Davis (30-0, 28 KOs) mentioning Vasily Lomachenko’s title final Saturday evening following his win over Frank Martin fairly than Shakur’s.
IBF light-weight champion Lomachenko is 36 years outdated, and Malignaggi feels he’s now not in his prime at this stage of his lengthy profession. He’d desire that Tank combat the 26-year-old Shakur (21-0, 10 KOs), who continues to be within the prime of his profession.
From Tank’s perspective, he desires to combat somebody who will make an entertaining combat and can look to have interaction. Shakur’s defensive preventing fashion focuses on not getting hit and pecking away with jabs.
Age and Prime Issues
“They talked about Lomachenko on the post-fight press convention. Stevenson was at all times mentioning Lomachenko’s title,” stated Paulie Malignaggi to Probox TV about his wanting Shakur Stevenson to be Gervonta Davis’s subsequent opponent.
“Now that Lomachenko is 175 years outdated and he nonetheless seems good, however you’re [Tank Davis] naming Lomachenko on the post-fight press convention [last Saturday night], however now Stevenson is the prime man who doesn’t characterize a threat that you simply need to take,” stated Malignaggi, making it clear that Tank Davis is ducking Shakur in favor of the 36-year-old Lomachenko.
It is sensible that Tank is enthusiastic about preventing Lomachenko now as a result of he can’t afford to attend for much longer. The extremely completed Ukrainian fighter will retire quickly, so it’s actually now or by no means for Tank. In distinction, Shakur is younger sufficient for Tank Davis to combat in some unspecified time in the future sooner or later. Shakur will likely be round for a very long time.
“That is my difficulty right here. Once I wished to see Davis and Lomachenko, I wished to see Davis and Lomachenko. I don’t must see Davis and Lomachenko when it’s too late already. Now, I need to see Davis and Stevenson.
“Guess what? No one is speaking about Davis and Stevenson. That’s my difficulty. That’s my drawback with boxing,” stated Malignaggi. “They make fights when it’s handy for them when there’s a bonus. Davis seemed terrific [against Frank Martin.]. I used to be very impressed with the efficiency.’
Shakur’s Current Efficiency and Reputation
Malignaggi forgets that Shakur got here off a horrible efficiency towards Edwin De Los Santos final November, and his recognition is at an all-time low after that combat.
After the best way Shakur fought, you possibly can’t blame Tank for not wanting something to do with preventing him as a result of few fighters do. Nobody desires to chase a runner across the ring for twelve rounds after which be on the receiving finish of a controversial determination like we noticed with De Los Santos.
“The best way he was in a position to go and get that win, however come on. Shakur Stevenson is a unique proposition than anyone else,” stated Malignaggi. “The little little bit of issues that you simply noticed Frank giving Davis. It’s occasions ten when Shakur is in there as a result of Shakur is the tall, rangy southpaw with much more IQ and much more versatility together with his fashion.”
Malignaggi is off together with his excessive reward of Shakur, who gained’t have the identical success as Martin did towards Tank Davis as a result of he can be afraid to let his fingers go together with energy pictures.
Shakur’s Defensive Type
Shakur would throw single pictures and run. That gained’t be efficient towards Tank as a result of he will likely be profitable rounds primarily based on his stress and tougher pictures.
“I’d like to see the combat. I’m saying this as a result of I need to see the combat. I believe Davis may be very certified for that combat. Do I edge Shakur? I’ve at all times edged Shakur. I believe Davis may be very certified for that combat. He seems terrific,” stated Malignaggi.
“He’s a thinker. It’s not simply the twitch and the facility. It’s additionally his understanding in there. He is aware of the way to set issues up. I need to see two [Shakur and Tank] get it on. Not later. I need to see them get it on now of their prime,” stated Malignaggi.
Shakur wants to just accept William Zepeda’s problem and show that he can battle this man in a struggle with out getting on his bike like he at all times does. Transferring as much as 140 or 147 kilos would enable Shakur to extend his recognition towards the highest fighters in these weight courses.
Sadly, Shakur would doubtless have problem getting fights in these divisions, too, until he have been prepared to take a harmful man like Jaron ‘Boots’ Ennis.
